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ENTERED,  according  to  Act  of  Congress,  in  the  year  1817,  by 

J  A  M  ESC      D  E  11  B  Y    &    C  O  . 

In  the  Clerk's  Office  of  the  District  Court  of  the  United  States  for 
the   Northern  District  of  New  York 


THOMAS    B.    SMITH.    STKKKUTYPKR, 
216  W1LUAM  STRKKT,   N.  Y. 


PUBLISHERS'  NOTICE. 


The  sudden  and  unexpected  termination  of  the 
earthly  career  of  the  lamented  TAYLOR,  seems  to 
have  called  for  a  final  chapter  to  the  great  Hero's 
Life ;  including  the  closing  scene  of  his  death. — 
This  is  incorporated  in  the  present  edition  by  the  es 
teemed  author;  and  it  is  now  offered  to  the  Public 
as  the  only  complete  record  yet  issued  from  the  press, 
of  the  main  incidents  in  the  life  of  one  who  "  never 
surrendered,"  but  to  the  Great  Conqueror  of  all. 

AUBURN,  September.  1850. 


ADVERTISEMENT 

TO    THE    REVISED    EDITION. 


THE  sale  of  the  previous  editions  of  the  Life  of  Taylor, 
and  his  election  to  the  Presidency  of  the  United  States, 
has  induced  the  publishers  to  issue  a  new  edition,  be 
lieving  that  the  favor  which  the  work  has  thus  far  met 
with  from  the  public,  demand  of  them  a  continuance  of 
the  history.  It  has  been  undertaken  by  the  compiler, 
and  the  chain  of  events  in  the  life  of  the  extraordinary 
man  of  whose  history  it  treats,  is  brought  down  to  the 
present  time,  including  a  sketch  of  the  leading  features 
connected  with  the  political  campaign  which  resulted 
in  his  election  to  the  Presidency.  The  work  has  there 
fore  been  much  enlarged,  if  not  improved,  and  it  is 
trusted  has  thereby  been  rendered  more  acceptable  to 
the  public. 

AUBURX,  I860. 


PREFACE. 


THE  sudden  splendor  with  which  GENERAL  TAYLOR 
nas  burst  upon  the  nation,  has  created  in  the  public 
mind  an  anxiety,  as  intense  as  it  is  universal,  to  be 
come  acquainted,  not  only  with  the  brilliant  deeds 
which  have  rendered  his  name  so  illustrious,  but  with 
all  the  incidents  of  his  life  from  his  youth  to  his  first 
prominent  appearance  before  the  country,  as  com- 
mander-in-chief  of  the  army,  destined  to  operate  against 
Mexico.  It  was  to  satisfy  this  anxiety  more  fully,  if 
possible,  and  in  a  more  durable  form  than  it  had  yet 
been  done,  that  this  work  has  been  prepared.  The 
compiler  claims  for  it  no  other  merit  than  this  over  the 
many  sketches  of  this  eminent  man's  life  that  have  pre 
ceded  it.  He  has  labored  under  much  embarrassment 
in  collecting  materials  for  a  work  claiming  even  that 
merit.  So  little  had  General  Taylor  sought  public  no 
toriety,  that  almost  his  very  name  was  unknown  to  a 
large  portion  of  the  American  people,  until  the  victories 
of  Palo  Alto  and  Resaca  de  la  Palma  revived  the 
recollection  of  it.  Even  his  heroic  defence  of  Fort 


VI  PREFACE. 

Harrison,  and  his  services  in  Florida,  were  nearly  for 
gotten. 

The  inconveniences  arising  from  this  cause  were 
increased  by  the  rapidity  with  which  the  materials 
had  necessarily  to  be  prepared.  In  less  than  seven 
weeks  from  the  day  the  first  "  copy"  was  written  and 
placed  in  the  hands  of  the  compositor,  the  last  sheet 
had  run  through  the  press.  In  addition  to  its  prepara 
tion,  the  compiler  had  the  management  of  a  daily  and 
weekly  paper,  and  the  various  other  duties  connected 
with  them  upon  his  hands.  Though  the  reader  has  a 
right  to  hold  him  strictly  accountable  for  the  imperfec 
tions  that  may  be  discovered,  yet  he  has  some  confi 
dence  that  these  circumstances  will  induce  a  less  rigid 
exaction  than  he  would  have  had  any  right  to  expect 
if  he  had  possessed  ampler  materials,  longer  time  to 
collect,  and  more  leisure  to  prepare  them.  It  is  proper 
to  say,  however,  that  he  has  been  careful  to  exclude 
everything  not  believed  to  be  strictly  authentic.  Much 
of  it  has  already  been  made  public,  principally  through 
the  newspaper  press  of  the  day.  Some  of  this  has 
been  acknowledged  in  the  appropriate  place.  But 
with  the  exception  of  Mr.  Thorpe's  excellent  work, 
entitled  "  Our  Army  on  the  Rio  Grande,"  the  sources 
of  his  information  are  so  various,  that  it  would  be  as 
tedious  as  it  is  unnecessary  to  specify  them. 

AUBURN,  JUNE,  1847. 


CONTENTS. 

CHAPTER   I. 

PAGE. 

Life  of  General  Zachary  Taylor 13 

Taylor's  Family  and  Parentage 14 

His  Early  Character 15 

A  Hazardous  Exploit 16 

Education  and  Youthful  Associates 17 

Appointed  Lieutenant  in  the  Army IB 

War  Declared 19 

A  Night,  of  Horror 20 

Defence  of  Fort  Harrison 21 

The  Official  Account 23 

A  Conflagration 23 

A  Deserter's  Return  24 

The  Enemy's  Retreat 25 

A  Dangerous  Position 26 

The  Garrison  Relieved 27 

Valor  Rewarded 28 

Expedition  against  the  Indians 29 

Anecdote  of  5lajor  Taylor 30 

His  Speech  at  Black  River 31 

Arrival  of  Reinforcements 3*2 

Another  Promotion 33 

CHAPTER   II. 

The  Florida  War 34 

Battle  of  Okee-cho-bee 37 

Victory  of  Okee-cho-bee 38 

The  Details 39 

Meeting  with  an  Indian  Chief 40 

Indian  Treachery 41 

A  March  by  Night 42 

Alligator's  Camp 43 

Dispositions  for  Battle 44 

The  Final  Arrangements 45 

The  Attack  Begun 46 

The  Killed  and  Wounded 47 

Removing  the  Wounded 48 

Lieutenant-Colonel  Davenport 49 

Gallantry  of  the  Sixth 50 

Missouri  Volunteers   51 

Fruits  of  the  Victory 53 

Death  of  Lieutenant-Colonel  Thompson 54 

Colonel  Taylor  Promoted 55 

Letter  from  his  Camp  56 

Anecdote  of  General  Taylor 57 

Sought  to  be  Censured 58 

Employment  of  Bloodhounds fe) 


Vl  CONTENTS. 

CHAPTER   III. 

PAGE. 

Annexation  of  Texas  ........................................  60 

Private  Instructions  ..........................................  61 

Views  of  the  Government  ....................................  6V 

Taylor  to  repel  Invasion  ......................................  63 

Texas  assents  to  Annexation  ..................................  64 

Taylor's  Instructions  ...........................  .............  65 

Troops  ordered  into  Texas  ...................................  66 

A  Naval  Force  to  Co-operate  .................................  67 

Volunteers  from  other  States  .................................  68 

What  Acts  considered  Aggressive  .............  .  .  .  .............  69 

How  to  act  in  case  of  War  ...................................  70 

What  Position  to  be  Occupied  ........................  .......  71 

Taylor  ordered  to  the  Rio  Grande  .............................  72 

To  act  on  the  Defensive  .....................................  73 

General  Taylor's  Dispatches  .................................  74 

At  St.  Joseph's  Island  .......................................  75 

Health  of  the  Army  .........................................  76 

At  Corpus  Christi  ...........................................  77 

Character  of  his  Troops  ......................................  78 

Occupation  of  Point  Isabel  ......   ...........................  79 

Advantages  of  that  Position  ...........................  1  ......  80 

Army  to  be  Concentrated  .....................................  81 

Further  Instructions  Required  ...........................  .  .     82,  83 

Ordered  to  the  Rio  Grande  ...................................  84 

Armed  Vessels  Required  ......................................  85 

General  Taylor's  Policy  .....................................  86 

Army  leaves  Corpus  Christi  ..................................  87 

Conciliatory  Orders  ..........................................  88 

Good  Condition  of  the  Army  ..................................  89 

Arrives  at  Point  Isabel  ......................................  90 

Fire  at  Point  Isabel  .........................................  91 

A  Mexican  Protest  .......................................     92,  93 

Hostility  of  the  Mexicans  ....................................  94 

Mexican  Preparations  for  War  ...............................  95 

A  Summons  to  General  Taylor  ...............................  96 


General  Taylor's  Reply  ................  ......................  97 

His  Refusal  to  Comply  .......................................  98 

The  Rio  Grande  Blockaded  ...................................  99 

Ampudia's  Protest  .......    ...................................  100 

General  Taylor's  Pacific  Intentions  ............................  101 

Reviews  his  Acts  ..........................................  102 

Responsibility  Assumed  ......................................  103 

General  Ampudia's  Complaints  ...............................  104 

Warlike  Preparations  ........................................  105 

Attempt  at  Corruption  .......................................  106 

Mexicans  Cross  the  Rio  Grande  ..............................  107 

Surprise  of  Captain  Thornton  ................................  1  08 

Mexican  Rejoicing  ..........................................  109 

CHAPTER   IV. 

General  Taylor  leaves  Fort  Brown  ............................   110 

Mexican  Boasting  .........  .  .............................  ,  .  .  .    112 


CONTENTS.  IX 

PAGE. 

A  Charge  of  Cowardice 113 

Fort  Brown  Bombarded 114 

The  Enemy's  Account  of  it 115 

Their  Opinion  of  American  Troops ' 116 

What  they  consider  a  Triumph 117 

Mexican  Vralor 118 

Death  of  Major  Brown 120 

Summons  to  Fort  Brown 121 

Their  Fire  recommenced 122 

A  Happy  Omen 123 

Taylor  leaves  Point  Isabel 124 

The  Position  of  the  Enemy 125 

The  Battle  begun 126 

Effect  of  our  Artillery 127 

Lieutenant  Ridgeley's  Gallantry 128 

Firmness  of  the  Mexicans 131 

Death  of  Major  Ringgold 132 

The  Killed  and  Wounded 133 

Taylor's  Official  Account 134 — 1 37 

Mexican  Official  Account 138—140 

CHAPTER   V. 

Resaca  de  la  Palma 141 

General  Taylor's  Line  of  Battle 142 

Character  of  the  Mexican  Troops 143 

Driven  from  the  Ravine 144 

May's  Charge 145 

Lieutenant  Lincoln's  Heroism 146 

Incidents  of  the  Battle 147 

Fall  of  Colonel  M'Intosh 148 

A  Brave  Mexican 149 

Mexican  Confidence  of  Victory 150 

Taylor's  Official  Account 151 

Capture  of  La  Vega 154 

The  Enemy  Retreat 155 

American  Loss 15q 

The  Causes  of  our  Success 157 

Instances  of  Individual  Gallantry 153 

Good  Conduct  of  the  Officers....' 159 

Details  of  May's  Charge 160,161 

An  Awkward  Position 162 

Review  of  the  Actions 163 

Loss  of  the  Mexican  Army 164 

Character  of  the  Mexican  Troops 165 

Importance  of  Discipline 166 

Character  of  the  Battles 168 

European  Opinion*  of  the  Action 169 

Anxiety  at  Fort  Brown 170 

A  Painful  Dilemma 1 71 

The  News  of  Victory 172 

Flight  of  the  Defeated 173 

Terror  of  the  Mexicans 174 

A  Dreadful  Scene 175 


X  .CONTENTS. 

PAOX. 

A  Cowardly  Mexican  General , 176 

Anecdote  of  General  Taylor 177 

A  Disappointment 178 

CHAPTER   VI. 

Barita  Captured 179 

Preparations  for  capturing  Matamoras 180 

Negotiation  for  the  Surrender 181 

Interview  with  the  Prefect. , 182 

Our  Troops  cross  the  River 183 

Death  of  Lieutenant  George  Stevens 184 

The  American  Army  in  Matamoras 185 

A  Mercenary  Official 186 

Pursuit  of  the  Flying  Mexicans 187 

Sad  End  of  Lofty  Expectations 188 

Condition  of  Affairs  at  Matamoras 189 

Wounded  American  Officers   190 

General  Taylor  reinforced 191 

Reorganization  of  the  Mexican  Government 192 

General  Taylor  marches  for  Monterey 193 

His  Arrival  there 194 

Encamps  at  Walnut  Springs 195 

Preparations  for  the  Attack 196 

Attack  upon  an  advanced  Battery 197 

Garland's  Command  enter  the  Town 198 

Charge  upon  the  Second  Battery 201 

A  Foothold  obtained 202 

Severe  American  Loss 203 

The  Enemy  evacuate  their  Works 204 

Americans  Storm  the  City 205 

Proposal  to  Evacuate 206 

Terms  of  Capitulation 207 

Americans  enter  the  City 208 

Gallantry  of  Officers 209 

Commended  to  the  Government 210 

Good  Conduct  of  Soldiers 211 

Death  of  Captain  Williams 212 

Further  Details  of  the  Action 213 

Eagerness  for  the  Conflict 214 

Prospects  of  a  Bloody  Fight 215 

Incidents  of  the  Attack 216,  217 

Dangerous  Enterprise 218 

Gallantly  Accomplished 219 

Storming  a  Fort 220 

Instances  of  Individual  Courage 221 

A  Barbarous  Deed 222 

Capture  of  the  Bishop's  Palace 223 

Gallantry  of  General  Worth 224 

Services  of  the  Texan  Rangers 225 

Terms  of  Capitulation  Unsatisfactory 226 

Operations  of  General  Taylor 227 

Officers  Killed  and  Wounded 228 

Mississippi  Volunteers 229 


CONTENTS.  XI 

PAOK. 

A  ^lag  of  Truce 230 

Incidents  of  the  Capitulation 231 

Storming  of  Monterey 232,  233 

General  Taylor's  Defence 234—236 

The  Advantages  of  the  Terms 237 

Letter  from  General  Taylor 238 

His  contemplated  Movements 239 

Suggestions  to  his  Government 240 

Forces  required  to  take  Vera  Cruz 241 

Establishes  himself  at  Monterey 242 

Takes  Possession  of  Saltillo 243 

Scott  ordered  to  Mexico 244 

Scott's  Letter  to  Taylor 245 

His  Intentions 246 

Withdrawal  of  Taylor's  Forces 247 

Taylor's  Address  to  his  Troops 248 

Surprise  of  Colonel  May 249 

Taylor  encamps  at  Buena  Vista 250 

CHAPTER  VII. 

Battle  of  Buena  Vista 251 

Advantages  of  Taylor's  Position 252 

A  Gorgeous  Scene 253 

General  Taylor's  Line  of  Battle 254 

A  Humane  Proposition 255 

The  Attack  commenced 256 

Colonel  Hardin's  Charge 257 

An  Attempt  to  Outflank  Taylor 258 

Flight  of  the  Indiana  Regiment 259 

Great  Havoc  among  the  Enemy 260 

Attack  upon  our  Train 261 

A  Mexican  Stratagem 262 

An  Amusing  Demand 263 

Effect  of  Duplicity 264 

Victory  nearly  turned  to  Defeat 265 

A  Noble  Charge 266 

An  Exciting  Moment 267 

A  Sudden  Charge 268 

Death  of  Clay,  Hardin,  and  McKee 269 

Captain  Bragg's  Battery 270 

Narrow  Escape  of  Taylor 273 

A  Dearly  Purchased  Victory 274 

Some  of  the  Martyrs 275 

General  Taylor's  Official  Report 276—293 

Santa  Anna's  Humane  Summons 294 

Santa  Anna's  Account 295 

His  Embarrassments 296 

A  Charge  of  Treason 297 

Force  under  his  Command 298 

The  Plan  of  Battle 299 

A  Mexican  Deserter 300 

A  Sad  Disappointment 301 

An  Imagined  Retreat 302 


Xll  CONTENTS. 

PAGE. 

Misrepresentation  of  Taylor's  Forces 303 

Santa  Anna  commences  the  Attack 304 

Disposition  of  his  Forces 305 

Admits  his  Heavy  Losses ; 306 

Great  Glory  he  acquired 307 

Bravery  of  his  Officers 308 

Why  Taylor  got  off  so  well 309 

How  the  Americans  were  frightened 310 

Why  Santa  Anna  deserted  his  Wounded 311 

Difficulties  of  his  Position 312 

Expectations  for  the  Future 31 3 

The  Battle  described  in  Poetry 314—316 

A  Mexican  Poem 317,318 

CHAPTER   VIII. 

The  Dark  Features  of  War 319 

Taylor's  Gratulations  to  his  Army 320 

His  Humane  Disposition 321 

Letter  «f  Condolence  to  Mr.  Clay 322 

Lette*  to  Ex-Governor  Lincoln / 323 

His    -are  for  the  Slain 324 

An  Interesting  Private  Letter. 325 

Reference  to  the  Presidency 326 

Reasons  for  leaving  Agua  Nueva 327 

The  Attack 328 

A  Critical  Moment 329 

The  Enemy  Retreat 330 

A  Reasonable  Hope 331 

Their  Army  Routed 332 

Sketch  of  Martyrs  at  Buena  Vista 333 

Appearance  of  the  Enemy 334 

Instances  of  Taylor's  Humanity 335 

The  Horrors  of  War 336 

An  Affecting  Spectacle 337 

Taylor  on  the  Battle  Field 338 

Arrival  of  Mexican  Dispatches 339 

General  Taylor's  Reply, 340—342 

His  Coolness  at  Monterey 343 

His  simple  Tastes 344 

Anecdotes  of  Him 345—348 

A  Gent' dman  Volunteer 349 

Taylor's  Ability  in  Composition 350 

His  Character 352—358 

His  Military  Talents 359 

His  Happy  Temperament 360 


CONTENTS.  Xlll 

CHAPTER  IX. 

<» 

PAGE 

General  Taylor  at  Monterey 361 

Lawlessness  of  Texan  Rangers 363 

Expedition  Against  Huejutla 364 

Troops  Ordered  to  Vera  Cruz 365 

Number  of  Taylor's  Forces 366 

Taylor's  Embarrassments 367 

His  Letter  to  General  Gaines 368 

Letter  to  Mr.  Marcy 369 

Withdrawal  from  Mexico 371 

Attachment  of  his  Soldiers 372 

Arrival  in  the  United  States 373 

His  Reception  There 374 

His  Desire  for  Retirement 375 

His  Political  Sentiments 376 

First  Letter  on  the  Presidency 377 

His  National  Character 378 

Taylor's  Political  Position 379 

His  Letter  to  Ingersoll 380 

Distrusts  his  Abilities 381 

The  First  Allison  Letter 382 

Declines  making  Pledges 383 

His  views  of  the  Veto  Power 384 

Acquiescence  in  the  will  of  the  People 385 

CHAPTER  X. 

Meeting  of  the  Whig  National  Convention 386 

Genenal  Taylor's  Nomination 388 

Vote  of  the  States 389 

His  Letter  of  Acceptance 392 

Crisis  in  the  Campaign 393 

Reply  to  the  Charllston  Letter 394 

Accepts  the  Nomination 395 

The  Second  Allison  Letter 396 

His  rule  of  Action 397 

Why  he  Accepted  all  Nominations 398 

His  relation  to  the  Whig  Party 399 

General  Tavior's  Creed .  .  .  .400 


XIV.  CONTENTS. 

General  Taylor's  Election 401 

His  Departure  for  Washington 402 

His  Withdrawal  from  the  Army 403 

Demonstrations  of  Popular  Favor 404 

CHAPTER  XL 

His  Inauguration 406 

Inaugural  Address 407 

Takes  the  Oath  of  Office 410 

Removal  of  Office -Holders 411 

The  Slavery  Question 412 

His  First  Message  to  Congress 414 

Its  Merits 415 

Message  on  California  and  New  Mexico 418 — 419 

His  Policy  as  Executive .. 424 

Exposure  on  the  Fourth  of  July 425 

Attacked  by  Cholera  Morbus 426 

Progress  of  the  Disease 427 

Declared  past  Recovery 428 

Dying  Declaration 429 

His  Devotion  to  a  sense  of  Duty 430 — 431 

Death  bed  Scene 432 

Meeting  of  the  Cabinet 433 

Universal  Grief  at  the  President's  Death 434 — 435 

Fillmore's  Mr ssage 436 

Mr.  Webster's  Speech 437 

Fillmore's  Second  Message 440 

Addresses  in  Congress 441 

Mr.  Baker's  Speech 442 

Preparations  made  for  the  Funeral 444 — 445 

Military  Companies  in  the  Procession 446 — 447 

The  Procession 448 

Funeral  Services 449 

Dr.  Pyne's  Address 450 

The  Funeral  Car 457 

"  Old  Whitey  " 458 

Lines  on  his  Death , 459 

Universal  Attachment 460 

His  last  Letter 461 

His  Character..  ..462 


LIFE 


OF 


GENERAL    ZACHARY    TAYLOR, 


CHAPTER  I. 

Yfcn  Taylor  Family— Colonel  Richard  Taylor— Birth  of  Zachary  Tay 
lor — His  youth — Early  indications  of  Character — Education — Disad 
vantages  he  labored  under — His  Bold  and  Adventurous  Disposition — 
Hazardous  Exploit — Love  of  Military  Display — Receives  a  Lieuten 
ant's  Commission  in  the  Regular  Army — Promoted  to  the  rank  of 
Captain — His  Gallant  Defence  of  Fort  Harrison — The  Account  of 
the  Engagement— Receives  the  Brevet  of  Major— Expedition  against 
the  Indians— Services  in  the  Black  Hawk  War— Promoted  succes 
sively  to  the  rank  of  Lieutenant  Colonel  and  Colonel— Appointed 
Indian  Agent. 

ZACHARY  TAYLOR  is  descended  from  an  ancient  and 
distinguished  English  family,  which  emigrated  to  Amer 
ica  and  settled  in  the  eastern  part  of  the  colony  of 
Virginia,  in  the  year  1692,  and  the  name  has  been  in 
timately  identified  and  interwoven  with  the  civil,  polit 
ical,  and  military  history  of  Virginia,  both  as  a  weak 
and  languishing  colony,  and  a  great  and  powerful  com 
monwealth,  from  that  day  to  the  present.  Amongst 
others  with  whom  General  Zachary  Taylor  is  con 
nected,  either  by  the  ties  of  consanguinity  or  marriage, 


14  TAYLOR'S  FAMILY  AND  PARENTAGE. 

and  whose  names  have  rendered  its  history  illustrious, 
are  numbered  the  Madisons,  Lees,  Barbours,  Pendle- 
tons,  Conways,  Talafieros,  Hunts,  Saineses,  &c. 

The  father  of  Zachary  Taylor  held  a  colonel's  com 
mission  throughout  the  Revc  lutior ,  and  served  with 
great  valor  during  that  long  and  unequal  struggle, 
much  of  the  time  with  Washington  himself,  and  re 
taining  in  all  emergencies,  and  under  every  difficulty, 
his  confidence  and  esteem.  He  was  engaged  in  many 
of  the  most  fiercely  contested  and  bloody  battles  of 
the  war,  and  particularly  at  Trenton,  where  he  ren 
dered  distinguished  and  valuable  aid  to  the  cornmander- 
in-chief,  in  that  brilliant  achievement. 

In  1790  Colonel  Taylor  emigrated  to  Kentucky,  in 
company  with  Colonels  Croghan  and  Bullitt,  when 
that  territory  was  but  little  more  than  an  Indian  hunt 
ing  ground.  It  was  then  the  scene  of  frequent  fierce 
and  bloody  strifes  between  the  various  tribes  which 
inhabited  it,  and  murderous  excursions  against  the 
emigrant  population  who  had  settled  there.  From 
these  desperate  and  bloody  encounters,  amongst  them 
selves  and  with  the  white  man,  Kentucky  derived  the 
name  of  the  "  Dark  and  Bloody  Ground." 

In  many  of  these  encounters  Colonel  Taylor  bore  a 
conspicuous  part,  and  by  his  bold  and  daring  conduct, 
and  ceaseless  vigilance,  rendered  his  name  a  terror  to 
the  merciless  foe.  After  peace  was  established,  he 
held  many  honorable  and  responsible  positions.  He 
was  one  of  the  framers  of  the  constitution  of  Ken 
tucky  ;  represented  Jefferson  county,  and  Louisville 
city  for  many  years  in  both  branches  of  the  state  legis 
lature,  and  was  a  member  of  the  electoral  colleges 
which  voted  for  Jefferson,  Madison,  Monroe,  and  Clay. 
Among  the  politicians  of  Kentucky,  he  is  remembered 


HIS    EARLY    CHARACTER  15 

as  one  of  the  few  men  of  the  Old  Court  party,  who 
could  be  elected  during  the  excitement  of  the  "  Old 
Court  and  New  Court  question." 

Colonel  Taylor  died  on  his  plantation  near  Louis 
ville,  Kentucky,  leaving  three  sons,  (his  second  and 
fourth  sons,  George  and  William,  having  died  pre 
viously.)  Hancock,  Zachary  and  Joseph,  and  three 
daughters,  Elizabeth,  Sarah,  and  Emily. 

Hancock,  Elizabeth,  and  Emily,  have  died  since 
their  father,  so  that  Joseph  and  Sarah  are  the  only 
brother  and  sister  of  Zachary  now  living.  The  de 
scendants  of  the  deceased  members  of  the  family,  with 
two  exceptions,  live  in  and  near  Louisville,  Kentucky. 

ZACHARY  TAYLOR  was  born  in  Orange  county,  Vir 
ginia,  in  1784,  and  was  less  than  a  year  old  when  his 
father  emigrated  to  Kentucky.  His  youth  was  there 
fore  spent,  and  his  character  formed,  amidst  the  dan 
gers  and  difficulties  of  Indian  warfare,  and  the  hard 
ships  and  privations  ever  incident  to  a  frontier  life. 
His  boyhood  was  distinguished  by  indications  of  that 
straightforward,  manly  independence  of  character,  in 
flexibility  of  purpose,  frank  and  open  disposition,  fore 
sight,  decision  and  energy ;  modest  and  retiring  de 
meanor,  and  thoughtful,  inquiring  mind,  that  have 
since  borne  him  so  triumphantly  through  difficulties 
and  dangers  before  which  men  educated  in  a  less 
severe  school  would  have  shrunk  in  despair,  until  he 
has  wrought  out  a  name  that  will  fill  one  of  the  bright 
est  pages  in  American  history. 

Many  family  and  neighborhood  anecdotes  are  told 
to  illustrate  his  daring  and  adventurous  character,  and 
his  love  for  dangerous  enterprises.  Night  after  night 
he  was  in  the  habit  of  seeing  the  house  barricaded,  and 
the  arms  prepared  to  repel  any  attack  that  might  be 


16  A    HAZARDOUS    EXPLOIT. 

made  before  the  morning  dawned.  Scarcely  a  week 
passed  that  there  was  not  an  alarm,  or  an  actual  in 
cursion  of  Indians  amongst  the  settlements.  Even  on 
his  way  to  school  he  was  in  danger  of  the  tomahawk 
and  scalping  knife.  On  one  occasion,  some  of  his 
schoolmates  were  murdered  and  scalped  by  the  In 
dians,  within  a  hundred  yards  from  the  point  where 
he  and  his  brothers  had  separated  from  them. 

When  but  seventeen  years  old  he  swam  across  the 
Ohio  river,  from  the  Kentucky  to  the  Indiana  shore,  in 
the  month  of  March,  when  the  river  was  filled  with 
floating  ice,  which  is  a  feat  far  surpassing  in  danger 
and  difficulty  the  far-famed  exploit  of  swimming  the 
Hellespont.  Many  other  well-attested  anecdotes  are 
related  of  his  daring  adventures,  and  his  love  of  bold 
and  dangerous  exploits.  He  took  great  delight  in 
fishing  and  hunting,  and  was  often  absent,  roaming 
through  forests  and  over  boundless  prairies,  for  days  and 
nights  together,  in  quest  of  game.  No  obstacle  would 
dampen  his  indomitable  energy,  or  discourage  him 
from  attempting  the  most  hazardous  enterprises. 

As  may  well  be  understood,  young  Taylor  enjoyed 
but  few  advantages  for  acquiring  a  practical,  much 
less  an  ornamental  or  classical  education.  The  char 
acter  of  the  schools  of  Kentucky,  at  that  time,  as  in 
all  other  new  and  sparsely  settled  districts,  were  not 
of  a  very  elevated  character.  The  few  schools  then, 
were  supported  by  private  munificence,  and  wrere  not 
of  a  character  to  lay  a  very  broad  or  deep  foundation 
for  those  attainments,  and  that  useful  superstructure  of 
knowledge,  which  the  superior  facilities  of  the  present 
day  render  so  easy  of  access.  But  few  as  were  the 
advantages  afforded  him,  his  ever  active  and  inquiring 
mind,  his  great  love  of  learning,  his  remarkably  strong 


EDUCATION    AND    YOUTHFUL    ASSOCIATES.  17 

and  retentive  memory,  and  above  all,  his  iron  will  and 
great  tenacity  of  purpose,  more  that  compensated,  in 
his  case,  for  what  otherwise  would  have  confined  his 
acquirements  to  the  commonest  rudiments  of  an  Eng 
lish  education.  But  by  the  aid  of  these  striking  char 
acteristics,  he  was  enabled  to  overcome  all  difficulties, 
and  to  store  his  mind  with  a  fund  of  information  that 
few  have  acquired,  even  under  the  most  favorable  cir 
cumstances.  The  elegance,  beauty  and  simplicity  of 
his  official  dispatches  from  Mexico,  stamp  him  as  one 
of  the  chastest  and  most  accomplished  writers  of  the 
day. 

Amongst  Taylor's  most  intimate  associates  at  school, 
were  Col.  Joseph  P.  Taylor,  who  afterwards  distin 
guished  himself  at  the  battle  of  Okee-cho-bee,  during  the 
Florida  war,  and  has  now  the  control  of  the  commissary 
department  in  Mexico,  and  Col.  George  Croghan,  sub 
sequently  the  hero  of  Fort  Sandusky,  and  at  present 
holding  a  high  post  in  the  army  of  the  United  States. 
He  remained  with  his  family,  in  Kentucky,  until  the 
year  1808,  when  the  capture  of  the  United  States 
Frigate  Chesapeake,  by  the  British  Frigate  Leopard, 
fired  the  whole  country  with  indignation,  and  fearfully 
increased  the  feelings  of  animosity  that  the  repeated 
aggressions  of  the  English  nation  had  already  raised  to 
so  high  a  pitch.  Young  Taylor  partook  of  the  general 
excitement  to  its  full  extent,  and  eagerly  seized  upon 
the  occasion  as  a  favorable  moment  to  gratify  his  anx 
ious  desire  to  enter  the  army,  and  at  the  same  time  to 
assist  in  vindicating  the  outraged  honor  of  his  country's 
flag.  Accordingly  he  lost  no  time  in  making  his  wishes 
known.  He  therefore  applied  to  Mr.  Jefferson  for  a 
commission  in  the  army,  and,  by  the  aid  of  his  power 
ful  family  connections,  his  application  was  successful ; 


18  APPOINTED    LIEUTENANT    IN    THE    ARMY. 

and  on  the  3rd  of  May,  1808,  when  only  eighteen  years 
old,  he  received  a  commission  as  first  lieutenant  in  the 
Seventh  Regiment  of  United  States  Infantry.  His 
young  ambition  was  now  satisfied,  and  a  wide  field 
opened  before  him  for  the  gratification  of  his  long  in 
dulged  and  ardent  aspirations  for  military  fame.  He 
had  almost  from  his  earliest  youth  evinced  a  strong  in 
clination  for  martial  exercises,  and  his  greatest  pleasure 
consisted  in  playing  the  soldier  and  acting  the  mock 
hero  at  the  head  of  an  army  of  equally  young  patriots. 
In  these  mimic  battles  he  exhibited,  on  a  small  scale, 
the  germ  of  that  genius  for  command,  and  military  skill 
and  talent,  which  have  since  been  so  eminently  devel 
oped. 

From  the  time  he  entered  the  army  until  the  break 
ing  out  of  the  war  with  England,  but  little  occurred  in 
the  life  of  the  young  lieutenant  to  break  the  monoto 
nous  round  of  every-day  duty,  to  \vhich  soldiers  are 
bound  when  not  in  actual  .service.  He  passed  his  time 
in  the  duties  of  his  position,  and  in  perfecting  himself 
in  a  knowledge  of  the  profession  he  had  chosen.  He 
brought  to  the  task  the  same  untiring  industry  and  firm 
determination  to  understand  the  science  of  war,  which 
he  had  ever  shown  in  whatever  pursuit  or  study  he  en 
tered  upon.  It  was  probably  during  these  compara 
tively  leisure  years,  that  he  acquired  that  acquaintance 
with  military  tactics  which  is  so  necessary  to  the  suc 
cessful  commander,  and  which  afterwards  served  to 
place  him  amongst  the  first  generals  of  the  day. 

Previous  to  the  breaking  out  of  hostilities,  the  Eng 
lish  government,  through  its  agents,  had  been  unceas 
ing  in  its  efforts  to  induce  the  Miamies  and  other  tribes 
of  western  Indians  to  take  up  arms  against  the  United 
States,  and  had  been  unscrupulous  in  the  use  of  money 


WAR    DECLARED.  19 

and  means  to  accomplish  this  end.  Their  agents  had 
been  partially  successful  in  enlisting  several  savage 
tribes  in  their  plans.  The  threatened  outbreak,  how 
ever,  was  discovered  before  their  schemes  had  quite 
matured,  and  by  the  promptness,  energy,  and  vigilance 
of  General  William  Henry  Harrison,  who  was  then 
governor  of  the  Northwest  Territory,  their  intentions 
were  anticipated,  and  a  detachment  of  troops  under  his 
command  was  marched  into  the  enemy's  country. 
While  on  this  expedition  Governor  Harrison  deter 
mined  to  build  a  fort  on  the  Wabash,  in  Indiana,  about 
fifty  miles  above  Yincennes,  which  was  afterwards 
known  as  Fort  Harrison.  Lieutenant  Taylor  was  ac 
tively  engaged  in  this  expedition,  and  in  overawing  the 
Indians  in  other  quarters.  At  the  beginning  of  1812, 
Lieutenant  Taylor  was  promoted  to  the  rank  of  cap 
tain,  by  President  Madison. 

On  the  19th  of  June,  1812,  a  declaration  of  war  was 
formally  declared  against  Great  Britain  by  the  United 
States  Congress,  and  sanctioned  by  the  President. 
Captain  Taylor  had  but  a  few  weeks  before  been  placed 
in  command  of  Fort  Harrison,  a  rude  and  weak  stock 
ade,  garrisoned  by  only  fifty  soldiers,  most  of  whom, 
like  himself,  were  worn  down  and  disabled  by  their 
long  and  severe  service.  Almost  in  the  very  midst  of 

O  *< 

an  enemy's  country,  surrounded  on  all  sides  by  a  sleep 
less  and  savage  foe,  and  kept  constantly  on  the  alert, 
night  and  day,  for  weeks  together,  it  is  not  to  be  won 
dered  at  that  Taylor  and  his  men  should  nearly  have 
sunk  under  the  fatigue  and  labor  they  had  so  long  en 
dured.  While  in  this  wretched  state,  with  scarcely  a 
dozen  men  fit  for  service,  he  w^as  attacked,  on  the  night 
of  the  5th  of  September,  1812,  after  an  ineffectual  at 
tempt  to  get  possession  of  the  fort  by  stratagem,  by  a 


20  A    NIGHT    OF    HORROR. 

force  of  four  hundred  and  fifty  Indians.  But  Captain 
Taylor  had  taken  his  measures  with  too  much  prudence 
to  be  captured  either  by  stratagem  or  force,  as  weak 
as  were  his  defences  and  few  his  men. 

The  attack  was  commenced  about  eleven  o'clock 
at  night,  amidst  the  excitement  and  confusion  occa 
sioned  by  the  burning  of  the  lower  block-house,  which 
contained  the  property  of  the  contractor,  and  which 
they  had  previously  fired.  The  Indians,  confident  of 
victory,  had  completely  surrounded  the  little  garrison, 
and  commenced  firing  upon  it  from  all  sides,  simulta 
neously  with  the  firing  of  the  block-house.  But  Cap 
tain  Taylor  was  undismayed,  either  by  the  overwhelm 
ing  number  of  his  enemy  and  their  murderous  fire,  or 
the  more  dangerous  element  of  destruction  they  had 
called  to  their  aid.  He  calmly  gave  his  orders  for  hav 
ing  the  fire  extinguished,  but  for  a  long  time  all  efforts 
were  fruitless.  The  fire  communicated  to  the  roof,  in 
spite  of  every  effort  to  check  it.  The  scene  at  this 
time  is  represented  as  truly  appalling.  The  raging  of 
the  fire,  the  yelling  and  howling  of  several  hundred  In 
dians,  and  the  cries  of  women  and  children  who  had 
taken  shelter  there,  together  with  the  unceasing  dis 
charge  of  guns,  must  have  been  enough  to  appal  the 
stoutest  heart.  Yet  we  find  this  stripling  captain,  only 
twenty-two  years  of  age,  boldly  meeting  them  all,  and 
giving  his  orders  for  suppressing  the  fire,  and  repelling 
the  attack  of  his  four  hundred  savage  foes,  with  as 
much  coolness  as  the  oldest  veteran.  By  his  great 
presence  of  mind,  and  his  well-directed  efforts,  the 
flames  were  at  length  arrested,  and  the  fire  finally  sub 
dued.  Having  extinguished  the  fire,  and  erected  a  tem 
porary  breastwork,  the  fire  of  the  enemy  was  returned 
with  redoubled  vigor  during  the  whole  night,  and  with 


DEFENCE  OF  FORT  HARRISON.  21 

such  success,  that  at  six  o'clock  in  the  morning,  the  en 
emy  gave  up  the  contest  in  despair,  and  withdrew  their 
forces.  In  this  gallant  defence,  Captain  Taylor  only 
lost  two  men  killed,  and  two  wounded.  But  his  letter 
to  General  Harrison,  giving  a  graphic  and  detailed  ac 
count  of  the  defence  of  Fort  Harrison,  and  the  inci 
dents  connected  with  it,  will  obviate  the  necessity  of 
any  other  description  of  that  terrible  night,  and  be  far 
more  interesting.  Captain  Taylor  says  . — 

"On  Thursday  evening,  3rd  instant,  after  retreat- 
beating,  four  guns  were  heard  to  fire  in  the  direction 
where  two  young  men  (citizens  who  resided  here) 
were  making  hay,  about  four  hundred  yards  distant 
from  the  fort.  I  was  immediately  impressed  with  an 
idea  that  they  were  killed  by  the  Indians,  as  the  Mi- 
amies  or  Weas  had  that  day  informed  me  that  the 
Prophet's  party  would  soon  be  here  for  the  purpose  of 
commencing  hostilities,  and  that  they  had  been  directed 
to  leave  this  place,  which  they  were  about  to  do.  I 
did  not  think  it  prudent  to  send  out  at  that  late  hour 
of  the  night  to  see  what  had  become  of  them,  and  their 
not  coming  convinced  me  that  I  was  right  in  my  con 
jecture.  I  waited  until  eight  o'clock  next  morning, 
when  I  sent  out  a  corporal  with  a  small  party  to  find 
them,  if  it  could  be  done  without  running  too  much 
risk  of  being  drawn  into  an  ambuscade.  He  soon  sent 
back  to  inform  me,  that  he  had  found  them  both  killed, 
and  wished  to  know  my  further  orders.  I  sent  the  cart 
and  oxen,  had  them  brought  in  and  buried.  They  had 
been  shot  with  two  balls,  scalped  and  cut  in  the  most 
shocking  manner.  Late  in  the  evening  of  the  4th  in 
stant,  old  Joseph  Lenar,  and  between  thirty  and  fortv 
Indians,  arrived  from  the  Prophet's  town,  with  a  white 
flag;  among  whom  were  about  ten  women,  and  the 


22  THE    OFFICIAL    ACCOUNT. 

men  were  composed  of  chiefs  of  the  tribes  which  com 
pose  the  Prophet's  party. 

"  A  Shawanee  man  that  spoke  good  English,  informed 
me  that  old  Lenar  intended  to  speak  to  me  next  morn 
ing,  and  try  to  get  something  to  eat.  After  retreat- 
beating,  I  examined  the  men's  arms,  and  found  them 
all  in  good  order,  and  completed  their  cartridges  to 
sixteen  Bounds  per  man.  As  I  had  not  been  able  to 
mount  a  guard  of  more  than  six  privates  and  two  non 
commissioned  officers  for  some  time  past,  and  some 
times  part  of  them  every  other  day,  from  the  unhealth- 
iness  of  the  company,  I  had  not  conceived  my  force 
adequate  to  the  defence  of  this  post,  should  it  be  vigor 
ously  attacked,  for  some  time  past.  As  I  had  just 
recovered  from  a  very  severe  attack  of  the  fever,  I 
was  not  able  to  be  up  much  through  the  night. 

"  After  tattoo,  I  cautioned  the  guard  to  be  vigilant, 
and  ordered  one  of  the  non-commissioned  officers,  as 
the  sentinel  could  not  see  every  part  of  the  garrison, 
to  walk  around  on  the  inside  during  the  night,  to  pre 
vent  the  Indians  taking  any  advantage  of  us,  provided 
they  had  any  intention  of  attacking  us.  About  eleven 
o'clock,  I  was  awakened  by  the  firing  of  one  of  the 
sentinels.  I  sprung  up,  ran  out,  and  ordered  the  men 
to  their  posts,  when  my  orderly  sergeant  (who  had 
charge  of  the  upper  block-house)  called  out  that  the 
Indians  had  fired  the  lower  block-house,  (which  con 
tained  the  property  of  the  contractors,  which  was  de 
posited  in  the  upper  part,  the  lower  part  having  been 
assigned  to  a  corporal  and  ten  privates  as  an  alarm 
post.)  The  guns  had  begun  to  fire  pretty  smartly  from 
both  sides.  I  directed  the  buckets  to  be  got  ready, 
and  water  brought  from  the  well,  and  the  fire  extin 
guished  immediately,  as  it  was  perceivable  at  that 


A    CONFLAGRATION.  23 

rime ;  b  it  from  debility,  or  some  other  cause,  the  men 
were  vary  slow  in  executing  my  orders.  The  word 
fire  appeared  to  throw  the  whole  of  them  into  confu 
sion;  ard  by  the  time  they  had  got  the  water,  and 
broken  open  »he  door,  the  fire  had  unfortunately  com 
municated  to  a  quantity  of  whiskey,  (the  stock  having 
licked  several  holes  through  the  lower  part  of  the  build- 
•iig,  after  the  salt  that  was  stored  there,  through  which 
"hey  had  introduced  the  fire  without  being  discovered, 
as  the  night  was  very  dark,)  and  in  spite  of  every  ex 
ertion  we  could  mike  use  of,  in  less  than  a  minute  it 
ascended  to  the  roof,  and  baffled  every  effort  we  could 
make  to  extinguish  it. 

"As  that  block-horase  adjoined  the  barracks  that 
made  part  of  the  fortifications,  most  of  the  men  imme 
diately  gave  themselves  up  for  lost,  and  I  had  the 
greatest  difficulty  in  getting  my  orders  executed ;  and, 
sir — what  from  the  raging  of  the  fire — the  yelling  and 
howling  of  several  hundred  Indians — the  cries  of  nine 
women  and  children  (a  part  soldiers'  and  a  part  citi 
zens'  wives,  who  had  taken  shelter  in  the  fort) — and  a 
desponding  of  so  many  of  the  men,  which  was  worse 
than  all — I  can  assure  you  that  my  feelings  were  very 
unpleasant ;  and,  indeed,  there  were  not  more  than  ten 
or  fifteen  men  "able  to  do  anything  at  all,  the  others 
being  sick  or  convalescent ;  and  to  add  to  our  other 
misfortunes,  two  of  our  stoutest  men  jumped  the  pickets 
and  left.  But  my  presence  of  mind  did  not  for  a  mo 
ment  forsake  me.  I  saw  by  throwing  off  part  of  the 
roof  that  joined  the  block-house  that  was  on  fire,  and 
keeping  the  end  perfectly  wet,  the  whole  row  of  build- 
»ngs  might  be  saved,  and  leave  only  an  entrance  of 
eighteen  or  twenty  feet  for  the  Indians  to  enter,  after 
the  house  was  consumed ;  and  that  a  temporary  breast- 


24  A  DESERTER'S  RETURN. 

work  might  be  formed  to  prevent  their  entering  even 
there.  I  convinced  the  men  that  this  could  be  accom 
plished,  and  it  appeared  to  inspire  them  with  new  life ; 
and  never  did  men  act  with  more  firmness  or  despera 
tion.  Those  that  were  able,  (while  others  kept  up  a 
constant  fire  from  the  upper  block-house  and  the  two 
bastions,)  mounted  the  roofs  of  the  houses,  with  Doctor 
Clark  at  their  head,  (who  acted  with  the  greatest  firm 
ness  and  Dresence  of  mind,  the  whole  time  the  att?ck 
lasted,  vvhicn  was  seven  nours,)  under  a  shower  of  DUi- 
lets,  and  in  less  than  a  moment  threw  off  as  much  of 
the  roof  as  was  necessary.  This  was  done,  with  one 
man  killed,  and  two  wounded,  and  I  am  in  hopes  nei 
ther  of  them  dangerously.  The  man  that  was  killed 
was  a  little  deranged,  and  did  not  get  off  of  the  house 
as  soon  as  directed,  or  he  would  not  have  been  hurt ; 
and  although  the  barracks  were  several  times  in  a 
blaze,  and  an  immense  quantity  of  fire  against  them, 
the  men  used  such  exertion,  that  they  kept  it  under, 
and  before  day  raised  a  temporary  breastwork  as  high 
as  a  man's  head.  Although  the  Indians  continued  to 
pour  in  a  heavy  fire  of  ball,  and  an  innumerable  quan 
tity  of  arrows,  during  the  whole  time  the  attack  lasted, 
in  every  part  of  the  parade,  I  had  but  one  oth^r  man 
killed — nor  any  other  wounded  inside  the  fort—  and  he 
lost  his  life  by  being  too  anxious.  He  got  into  one  of 
the  gallies  in  the  bastions,  and  fired  over  the  pickets, 
and  called  out  to  his  comrades  that  he  had  killed  an 
Indian,  and  neglecting  to  stoop  down  in  an  instant,  he 
was  shot. 

"  One  of  the  men  that  jumped  the  pickets,  returned 
an  hour  before  day,  and  running  up  towards  the  gate, 
begged  for  God's  sake  for  it  to  be  opened.  I  suspected 
it  to  be  a  stratagem  of  the  Indians  to  get  in,  as  I  did 


THE  ENEMY'S  RETREAT.  25 

not  recollect  the  voice ;  I  directed  the  men  in  the  bas 
tion  where  I  happened  to  be,  to  shoot  him,  let  him  be 
who  he  would,  and  one  of  them  fired  at  him,  but  for 
tunately  he  ran  up  the  other  bastion,  where  they  knew 
his  voice,  and  Dr.  Clark  directed  him  to  lie  close  to 
the  pickets,  behind  an  empty  barrel  that  happened  to 
be  there,  and  at  daylight  I  had  him  let  in.  His  arm 
was  broken  in  a  most  shocking  manner,  which  he  says 
was  done  by  the  Indians,  which  I  suppose  was  the 
cause  of  his  returning.  I  think  it  probable  that  he  will 
not  recover.  The  other  they  caught  about  one  hun 
dred  and  thirty  yards  from  the  garrison,  and  cut  him 
all  to  pieces.  After  keeping  up  a  constant  fire  until 
about  six  o'clock  the  next  morning,  which  we  began  to 
return  with  some  effect,  after  daylight  they  removed 
out  of  reach  of  our  guns.  A  party  of  them  drove  up 
the  horses  that  belonged  to  the  citizens  here,  and  as 
they  could  not  catch  them  very  readily,  shot  the  whole 
of  them  in  our  sight,  as  well  as  a  number  of  their  hogs. 
They  drove  off  the  whole  of  the  cattle,  which  amounted 
to  sixty-five  head,  as  well  as  the  public  oxen.  I  had 
the  vacancy  filled  up  before  night  (which  was  made 
by  the  burning  of  the  block-house)  with  a  strong  row 
of  pickets,  which  I  got  by  pulling  down  the  guard 
house.  We  lost  the  whole  of  our  provisions,  but  must 
make  out  to  live  upon  green  corn,  until  we  can  get  a 
supply,  which  I  am  in  hopes  will  not  be  long.  I  be 
lieve  the  whole  of  the  Miamies  or  Weas  were  among 
the  Prophet's  party,  as  one  chief  gave  his  orders  in 
that  language,  which  resembled  Stone  Eater's  voice, 
and  I  believe  Negro  Legs  was  there  likewise.  A 
Frenchman  here  understands  their  different  languages ; 
and  several  of  the  Miamies  or  Weas  that,  have  been 

2 


2G  A    DANGEROUS    POSITION. 

frequently  here  were  recognized  by  the  Frenchman 
and  soldiers  next  morning. 

"  The  Indians  suffered  smartly,  but  were  so  nume 
rous  as  to  take  off  all  that  were  shot.  They  continued 
with  us  until  the  next  morning,  but  made  no  further 
attempt  on  the  fort,  nor  have  we  seen  anything  more 
of  them  since.  I  have  delayed  informing  you  of  my 
situation,  as  I  did  not  like  to  weaken  the  garrison,  and 
I  looked  for  some  person  from  Vincennes,  and  none  of 
my  men  were  acquainted  with  the  woods,  and  there 
fore  I  would  either  have  to  take  the  road  or  river, 
which  I  was  fearful  was  guarded  by  small  parties  of 
Indians,  that  would  no*  dare  attack  a  company  of 
rangers  that  was  on  a  scout ;  but,  being  disappointed, 
I  have  at  length  determined  to  send  a  couple  of  my 
men  by  wrater,  and  am  in  hopes  they  will  arrive  safe. 
I  think  it  would  be  best  to  send  the  provisions  under  a 
pretty  strong  escort,  as  the  Indians  may  attempt  to 
prevent  their  coming.  If  you  carry  on  an  expedition 
against  the  Prophet  this  fall,  you  ought  to  be  well  pro 
vided  with  everything,  as  you  may  calculate  on  having 
every  inch  of  ground  disputed,  between  this  and  there, 
that  they  can  defend  with  advantage." 

Three  days  after,  Captain  Taylor  again  addressed 
General  Harrison  as  follows  : — "  I  wrote  you  on  the 
10th  instant,  giving  you  an  account  of  the  attack  on 
this  place,  as  well  as  my  situation,  wrhich  account  I  at 
tempted  to  send  by  water,  but  the  two  men  whom  I 
dispatched  in  a  canoe  after  night,  found  the  river  so 
well  guarded  that  they  were  obliged  to  return.  The 
Indians  had  built  a  fire  on  the  bank  of  the  river,  a 
short  distance  below  the  garrison,  which  gave  them  an 
opportunity  of  seeing  any  craft  that  might  attempt  to 
pass,  and  \vere  waiting  with  a  canoe  ready  to  intercept 


THE    GARRISON    RELIEVED.  27 

it.  I  expect  the  fort,  as  well  as  the  road  to  Vincennes, 
is  as  well  or  better  wratched  than  the  river.  But  my 
situation  compels  me  to  make  one  other  attempt  by 
land,  and  my  orderly  sergeant,  with  one  other  man, 
sets  out  to  night,  with  strict  orders  to  avoid  the  road 
in  the  daytime,  and  depend  entirely  on  the  woods,  al 
though  neither  of  them  has  ever  been  to  Vincennes  by 
land,  nor  do  they  know  anything  of  the  country ;  but 
I  am  in  hopes  they  will  reach  you  in  safety.  I  send 
them  with  great  reluctance,  from  their  ignorance  of 
the  woods.  I  think  it  very  probable  there  is  a  large 
party  of  Indians  waylaying  the  road  between  this  and 
Vincennes,  likely  about  the  Narrows,  for  the  purpose 
of  intercepting  any  party  that  may  be  coming  to  this 
place,  as  the  cattle  they  got  here  will  supply  them  plen 
tifully  with  provisions  for  some  time  to  come." 

The  same  modesty  and  forgetfulness  of  himself  mark 
this  unpretending  account  of  his  heroic  and  successful 
defence  of  a  post  almost  defenceless,  that  has  character 
ized  every  act  of  his  life,  and  especially  that  so  eminently 
distinguished  his  official  dispatches  at  a  later  period. 
Though  the  style  of  his  composition  is  immature,  and 
in  some  degree  obscure  and  inelegant,  compared  with 
his  subsequent  writings,  yet  it  is  distinguished  by  the 
same  vigor  of  thought  and  manly  independence  of 
manner. 

Soon  after  this  dispatch  was  written,  Captain  Tay 
lor  was  reinforced  by  Colonel  Russell,  with  several 
companies  of  Rangers  and  Indiana  volunteers.  At  the 
time  of  the  fortunate  arrival  of  these  forces  the  little 
garrison  was  in  a  most  wretched  condition,  being  out 
of  provisions,  three-fourths  of  them  disabled  from  duty 
by  sickness  and  fatigue,  and  destitute  of  almost  every 
necessary  for  health  or  comfort.  But  for  the  relief 


28  VALOR    REWARDED. 

brought  them,  they  must  either  have  abandoned  the 
fort  at  once,  or  died  with  hunger.  Supplies  of  pro 
visions  had  been  forwarded,  but  the  wagons  were  cap 
tured,  and  the  escort  killed  nearly  to  a  man. 

The  Indians  were  greatly  incensed  at  their  disgrace 
ful  repulse,  and  the  loss  they  suffered,  and  retaliated 
upon  the  Americans,  by  attacking  an  unarmed  settle 
ment,  and  murdering  about  twenty  inhabitants.  But 
the  country  was  filled  with  the  highest  admiration  for 
the  gallant  and  noble  conduct  of  the  young  captain. 
The  repulse  of  four  hundred  Indians,  by  an  officer 
only  twenty-two  years  old,  with  only  fifty  men,  three- 
fourths  of  whom  were  on  the  sick  list,  and  arresting  at 
the  same  time  a  destructive  fire  that  had  broken  out  in 
one  of  his  block-houses,  was  looked  upon  as  indicating 
the  very  first  order  of  military  talent,  and  deserving 
the  highest  commendation.  For  his  valuable  services 
to  the  country,  and  his  daring  courage  on  this  occa 
sion,  the  brevet  rank  of  major  was  conferred  upon 
Captain  Taylor,  being  the  first  brevet  commission  con 
ferred  during  the  war,  and  the  oldest  one  in  the  army. 
His  praises  were  on  every  tongue  throughout  the 
whole  western  country,  and  the  most  flattering  com 
pliments  were  bestowed  upon  him.  Amongst  others, 
Major-Ceneral  Hopkins  spoke  in  the  warmest  terms  of 
commendation  of  him,  in  a  letter  to  Governor  Shelby, 
of  Kentucky.  He  said,  "  the  firm  and  almost  unparal 
leled  defence  of  Fort  Harrison,  by  Captain  Zachary 
Taylor,  has  raised  for  him  a  fabric  of  character  not  to 
be  effaced  by  eulogy."  His  victory,  like  all  his  sub 
sequent  triumphs,  was  won  with  an  overwhelming 
odds  against  him,  and  it  inspired  the  highest  confidence 
amongst  his  superior  officers,  in  his  courage,  skill,  and 
Judgment. 


EXPEDITION    AGAINST    THE    INDIANS.  29 

Shortly  after  the  battle  of  Fort  Harrison,  Major 
Taylor  was  dispatched  on  an  expedition  against  the 
Prophet's  and  Winnebago  towns,  under  General  Hop 
kins,  in  which  he  displayed  the  same  vigilance  and 
energy  that  had  signalized  his  previous  conduct.  These 
towns,  and  also  some  other  Indian  villages,  were  entirely 
destroyed.  In  all  these  operations  Major  Taylor  bore 
a  conspicuous  part,  and  his  gallant  conduct  was  favor 
ably  referred  to  by  General  Hopkins,  in  his  official  dis 
patches  of  these  transactions  against  the  Indians.  By 
these  active  and  efficient  measures,  the  power  of  the 
Indians  was  nearly  destroyed,  and  their  strength  so 
much  broken,  that  the  western  settlers  enjoyed  com 
parative  security  from  their  incursions  for  many  years. 

Though  Major  Taylor,  from  the  peculiar  circum 
stances  of  his  position,  had  no  other  opportunity  dur 
ing  the  war,  of  signalizing  himself;  yet  he  rendered 
equally  valuable  services  to  the  country,  by  keeping  in 
awe  the  numerous  tribes  of  western  savages,  and  pre 
venting  them,  in  a  great  measure,  from  rendering  effi 
cient  aid  to  the  British. 

From  the  termination  of  the  war  in  the  beginning 
of  1815,  to  1832,  when  the  Black  Hawk  war  broke  out, 
he  was  stationed  at  various  posts  in  the  West,  as  the 
interests  of  the  service  required,  always  active  and 
faithful  in  the  performance  of  the  duties  of  his  profes 
sion,  and  scrupulously  exact  in  requiring  it  from  those 
under  his  command.  In  1832,  previous  to  which  he 
had  been  promoted  to  the  rank  of  Lieutenant-Colonel, 
he  was  assigned  to  the  command  of  the  regular  troops 
in  the  Black  Hawk  war,  and  endured  all  the  hardships 
and  privations  of  that  vexatious  war.  At  the  battle 
of  the  Bad- Axe,  which  resulted  in  the  capture  of 'Black 
Hawk  and  the  Prophet,  and  in  the  overwhelming  de- 


30  ANECDOTE    OF    MAJOR    TAYLOR. 

feat  of  their  forces,  he  particularly  distinguished  him 
self,  and  had  an  important  agency  in  bringing  the  war 
to  a  close.  He  commanded  the  regular  troops,  in  this 
fiercely  contested  and  destructive  engagement,  as  he 
had  during  the  long  and  trying  march  through  the 
wilderness  in  pursuit  of  the  enemy. 

An  anecdote  of  Taylor,  that  occurred  during  the 
early  scenes  of  the  Black  Hawk  war,  is  related  by  C. 
F.  Hoffman,  Esq.,  which  may  here  be  appropriately 
introduced  as  illustrative  of  his  character,  and  fore 
shadowing  those  remarkable  qualities  of  mind  that 
have  since  shone  forth  so  brilliantly  on  so  many  trying 
occasions.  As  such  it  will  undoubtedly  prove  interest 
ing  to  the  reader.  Such  incidents,  indeed,  of  such  a 
man  are  always  not  only  interesting,  but  valuable  and 
instructive  as  a  preface  or  introduction  to  the  charac 
ter  of  the  man. 

Some  time  after  Stillman's  defeat  by  Black  Hawk's 
band,  Taylor,  marching  with  a  large  body  of  volunteers 
and  a  handful  of  regulars  in  pursuit  of  the  hostile  In 
dian  force,  found  himself  approaching  Rock  River, 
then  asserted  by  many  to  be  the  true  north-western 
boundary  of  the  State  of  Illinois.  The  volunteers,  as 
Taylor  was  informed,  would  refuse  to  cross  the  stream. 
They  were  militia,  they  said,  called  out  for  the  defence 
of  the  State,  and  it  was  unconstitutional  to  order  them 
to  march  beyond  its  frontier  into  the  Indian  country. 
Taylor  thereupon  halted  his  command,  and  encamped 
within  the  acknowledged  boundaries  of  Illinois.  He 
would  not,  as  the  relater  of  the  story  said,  budge  an 
inch  further  without  orders.  He  had  already  driven 
Black  Hawk  out  of  the  State,  but  the  question  of 
crossing  Rock  River  seemed  hugely  to  trouble  his 
ideas  of  integrity  to  the  constitution  on  one  side,  and 


HIS    SPEECH    AT    ROCK    RIVER.  31 

military  expediency  on  the  other.  During  the  night, 
however,  orders  came,  either  from  General  Scott  or 
General  Atkinson,  for  him  to  follow  up  Black  Hawk  to 
the  last.  The  quietness  of  the  Regular  colonel  mean 
while  had  rather  encouraged  the  mutinous  militia  to 
bring  their  proceedings  to  a  head.  A  sort  of  town- 
meeting  was  called  upon  the  prairie,  and  Taylor  in 
vited  to  attend.  After  listening  for  some  time  very 
quietly  to  the  proceedings,  it  became  Rough  and 
Ready's  turn  to  address  the  chair.  "  He  had  heard/' 
he  said,  "  with  much  pleasure  the  views  which  several 
speakers  had  expressed  of  the  independence  and  dig 
nity  of  each  private  American  citizen.  He  felt  that 
all  gentlemen  there  present  were  his  equals — in  reality, 
he  was  persuaded  that  many  of  them  would  in  a  few 
years  be  his  superiors,  and  perhaps,  in  the  capacity  of 
Members  of  Congress,  arbiters  of  the  fortune  and  repu 
tation  of  humble  servants  of  the  Republic  like  himself. 
He  expected  then  to  obey  them  as  interpreters  of  the 
will  of  the  people ;  and  the  best  proof  he  could  give 
that  he  would  obey  them,  was  now  to  observe  the  or 
ders  of  those  whom  the  people  had  already  put  in  the 
places  of  authority,  to  which  many  gentlemen  around 
him  justly  aspired.  In  plain  English,  gentlemen  and 
fellow-citizens,  the  word  has  been  passed  on  to  me 
from  Washington,  to  follow  Black  Hawk,  and  to  take 
you  with  me  as  soldiers.  I  mean  to  do  both.  There 
are  the  flat-boats  drawn  up  on  the  shore,  and  here  are 
Uncle  Sam's  men  drawn  up  behind  you  on  the  prairie." 
"  Stra-anger,"  added  the  man  who  told  the  story, 
"  the  way  those  militia-men  sloped  into  those  flat-boats 
was  a  caution.  Not  another  word  was  said.  Had 
Zach  Taylor  been  with  Van  Rensselaer  at**  Niagara 


32  ARRIVAL    OF    REINFORCEMENTS. 

River,  in  the  last  war,  I  rayther  think  he'd  a  taught 
him  how  to  get  militia-men  over  a  ferry." 

Taylor,  as  is  well  known,  did  follow  Black  Hawk 
through  the  prairies  of  northern  Illinois — through  the 
wooded  gorges,  the  rocky  fells,  the  plashy  rice-pools, 
the  hitherto  unbroken  wilderness  of  western  Wisconsin. 
The  militia-men  gave  out  from  day  to  day ;  the  coun 
try  became  impassable  to  horses,  and  the  volunteer 
settlers  who  had  first  seized  arms  merely  to  repel  an 
Indian  foray,  refused  to  submit  their  backs  to  the 
necessary  burdens  in  carrying  their  own  supplies 
through  the  deep  swamps  and  almost  impervious  for 
ests.  At  last  the  very  Indians  themselves,  whom 
Taylor  thus  desperately  pursued  from  day  to  day,  and 
week  to  week,  began  to  sink  from  fatigue  and  exhaus 
tion  :  they  were  found  by  our  men  stretched  beside 
their  trails,  while  yet  the  good  Anglo-Norman  blood  of 
Taylor's  band  held  out  amid  sufferings  in  the  wilderness 
which  the  child  of  the  forest  himself  could  not  endure. 
The  battle  of  the  Bad-Axe,  and  the  rout  of  Black 
Hawk  by  Taylor,  at  length  terminated  this  arduous 
march. 

The  steamer  bearing  Atkinson  and  his  reinforce 
ments,  reached  the  junction  of  the  Bad-Axe  and  the 
Mississippi,  just  as  the  encounter  \vas  over,  and  we 
believe  brought  Taylor  along  with  his  prisoners  back 
to  Fort  Crawford,  where,  after  landing  the  former, 
she  passed  on  to  St.  Louis.  When  we  remember  the 
complimentary  reception  which  Black  Hawk  met  with 
all  along  our  Atlantic  border,  how  strange  it  seems 
that  when  the  name  of  his  captor  was  mentioned  as 
the  hero  of  Okee-cho-bee,  his  countrymen  asked,  "  who 
is  this  Colonel  Taylor  that  has  just  been  brevetted  a 
Brigadier?"  Even  as  it  was  afterwards  asked  con- 


ANOTHER    PROMOTION.  33 

cerning  the  Hero  of  Rio  Bravo,  "  who  is  this  Brigadier 
Taylor  who  has  so  brilliantly  earned  the  brevet  of 
major-general  ?"  One  might  no\v,  without  extrava 
gance,  venture  to  predict  that  the  captor  of  Black 
Hawk  is  as  well  known  as  was  that  warrior  himself ; 
and  that  he  \vould  probably  be  received  by  the  people 
in  a  progress  throughout  the  country,  with  demonstra 
tions  of  affection  and  respect,  at  least  equal  to  those 
which  were  showered  upon  the  wily  Sauk  chief,  the 
but  too  successful  rival  of  the  chivalrous,  and  loyal, 
but  neglected  Keokuk. 

By  the  death  of  Colonel  Morgan,  Lieutenant-Colonel 
Taylor  received  the  appointment  of  Colonel  of  the  first 
regiment  of  Infantry,  then  stationed  on  the  Upper  Mis 
sissippi.  He  was  employed  there  for  several  years  as 
Indian  Agent,  in  which  capacity  he  won  their  confi 
dence,  and  acquired  great  influence  over  them  by  the 
wisdom,  prudence  and  tact  with  which  he  discharged 
his  trust,  and  the  unvarying  kindness  and  good  faith 
with  which  all  his  dealings  and  intercourse  with  them 
was  marked.  He  was  known  among  them  as  the  "  Big 
Chief."  2* 


CHAPTER  II. 

Commencement  of  the  Florida  War. — Severe  Battle  of  Okee-cho-bee. — 
Charge  of  the  Missouri  Volunteers. — Brave  conduct  of  the  Regular 
Troops.— Colonel  Taylor  everywhere  in  the  Fight. — Power  of  the 
Indians  broken. — Colonel  Taylor  Brevetted  Brigadier  General  for  his 
brave  conduct. — Assigned  the  Command  of  the  First  Department  of 
the  Army. — Account  of  his  movements  at  Fort  Bassinger. — An  amu 
sing  Anecdote. — General  Taylor  and  the  Missouri  Legislature. — His 
Agency  in  the  Employment  of  Bloodhounds  in  the  Florida  War. 

AT  the  breaking  out  of  the  Florida  or  Seminole  war, 
Colonel  Taylor  was  at  Fort  Crawford,  Prairie  du 
Chien,  built  by  him,  where  he  had  been  stationed  for 
four  years.  In  1836  he  was  ordered  to  Florida,  though 
he  was  then  on  furlough.  He  cheerfully  relinquished 
it,  however,  to  obey  the  call  of  his  country.  He  was 
placed  in  command  of  a  separate  column,  composed 
of  the  First,  Fourth,  and  Sixth  infantry,  some  artil 
lery,  and  the  Missouri  volunteers.  But  notwithstand 
ing  his  efforts  to  meet  the  enemy,  they  successfully 
evaded  him  until  the  25th  of  December,  1837,  when 
he  discovered  his  vicinity  to  Alligator,  Sam  Jones  and 
Co-o-coo-chee,  at  the  head  of  seven  hundred  Indians, 
all  well  armed,  and  most  skilful  marksmen.  They  had 
chosen  their  position  with  great  judgment,  in  a  dense 
hammock,  perfectly  concealed  and  strongly  fortified, 
and  were  confident  of  victory.  Their  front  and  one 
flank  were  protected  by  a  low  swamp,  almost  impas 
sable,  and  the  other  flank  rested  on  lake  Okee-cho-bee, 


BATTLE    OF    OKEE-CHO-BEE.  37 

by  which  it  was  securely  protected.  They  had  there 
fore  the  advantage  of  position,  if  not  of  numbers  on 
their  side,  Colonel  Taylor's  forces  amounting  to  about 
one  thousand  men.  As  soon  as  he  ascertained  where 
they  were  posted,  however,  he  determined  to  attack 
them  without  delay.  Xo  considerations  of  danger,  of 
numbers,  or  advantage  of  position  had  any  powei 
to  deter  him  from  attacking  an  enemy  "  wherever 
found,  or  in  whatever  numbers."  On  the  contrary* 
the  dangers  to  be  encountered  but  nerved  him  the 
more  firmly  to  meet  them. 

The  only  approach  to  the  enemy  led  through  a 
swamp  covered  with  saw-grass,  in  the  mud  of  which 
his  troops  sunk  knee  deep.  This  pass,  difficult  as  it 
was  from  this  cause,  was  rendered  tenfold  more  dan 
gerous  by  being  perfectly  swept  by  the  fire  of  the 
enemy.  Colonel  Taylor  did  not  hesitate  to  make  the 
attack.  The  engagement  was  brought  on  by  the  Mis 
sissippi  regiment  in  gallant  style.  They  dashed  through 
a  most  destructive  and  deadly  fire  poured  in  upon  them 
from  every  thicket  and  concealment,  and  from  the 
tree  tops.  This  murderous  fire  was  accompanied  with 
the  most  infernal  yells  from  the  savage  foe.  The  vol 
unteers  began  to  stagger  under  the  shock,  and  were 
finally  seized  with  a  panic,  and  broke  and  fled  in  wild 
disorder.  The  officers  of  the  Sixth  Regiment  of  regu 
lars  promptly  and  boldly  threw  themselves  in  front  of 
their  troops,  and  led  them  gallantly  to  the  charge. 
They  were  nobly  seconded  by  the  First  Regiment, 
commanded  by  Colonel  Taylor  himself  in  person,  and 
by  the  Fourth,  who  assailed  their  right  flank  with  ter 
rible  effect.  The  enemy  could  not  long  withstand  the 
shock  of  these  veterans.  They  were  quickly  thrown 
into  disorder  and  drven  in  confusion  from  their  strong 


38  VICTORY    OF    ©KEE-CHO-BEE. 

position,  after  a  contest  of  three  hours.  The  conflict 
was  one  of  the  fiercest  and  most  fatal  of  the  whole 
war,  and  so  dispirited  and  weakened  the  enemy  that 
they  were  never  after  able  to  collect  a  sufficient  force 
to  resist  openly  the  American  arms.  In  the  engage 
ment  the  Americans  lost  one  hundred  and  twenty- 
eight  officers  and  men  in  killed  and  wounded.  Amongst 
the  former  were  the  brave  and  accomplished  Lieuten 
ant-Colonel  Thompson,  Captain  Van  Swearingen,  Col 
onel  Gentry,  of  the  Missouri  volunteers,  and  Lieuten 
ants  Brooke  and  Carter.  Lieutenant  Walker,  who 
went  into  the  engagement  with  twenty  men,  had  only 
three  left — seventeen  had  been  killed  or  wounded ! 

Colonel  Taylor  was  everywhere  to  be  found  in  the 
thickest  of  the  fight,  where  the  balls  flew  fastest,  and 
the  danger  the  greatest,  encouraging  and  urging  on  his 
men.  Nothing  could  resist  his  onsets.  His  coolness 
and  presence  of  mind  reanimated  those  whose  power 
of  endurance  had  begun  to  fail,  and  gave  new  ardor 
to  others.  His  presence  inspired  all  with  confidence, 
and  gave  assurance  of  victory.  Never  was  there  a 
commander  who  possessed  the  power  of  infusing  his 
own  indomitable  spirit  into  his  troops  in  a  more  re 
markable  degree  than  Colonel  Taylor.  Wherever  he 
is  found  all  doubt  of  victory  disappears,  and  his  men 
fight  with  a  perfect  conviction  of  finally  triumphing : 
such  was  the  case  at  Okee-cho-bee,  and  such  has  been 
the  case  in  all  his  engagements  since. 

The  description  of  the  bloody  and  brilliant  battle  of 
Okee-cho-bee,  and  the  incidents  preceding  and  con 
nected  with  it,  have  been  designedly  brief,  with  a  view 
of  introducing  Colonel  Taylor's  own  detailed  report  of 
the  engagement.  This  is  too  minute  and  interesting, 
and  paints  too  forcibly  the  terrific  scene  to  be  omitted, 


THE    DETAILS.  39 

or  to  be  supplied  by  any  account  drawn  by  those  who 
did  not  witness  and  participate  in  it.  The  report  of 
Colonel  Taylor  also  contains  a  statement  in  detail  of 
all  his  operations  in  the  field,  from  the  19th  of  Decem 
ber  to  the  4th  of  January.  On  the  4th  of  January, 
succeeding  the  battle,  Colonel  Taylor  thus  wrote  to 
Brigadier  General  Jones  : 

"  On  the  19th  ultimo,  I  received  at  this  place  a  com 
munication  from  Major  General  Jesup,  informing  me 
that  all  hopes  of  bringing  the  war  to  a  close  by  nego 
tiation,  through  the  interference  or  mediation  of  the 
Cherokee  delegation,  were  at  an  end,  Sam  Jones,  with 
the  Mickasukies,  having  determined  to  fight  it  out  to 
the  last,  and  directing  me  to  proceed  with  the  least  pos 
sible  delay  against  any  portion  of  the  enemy  I  might 
hear  of  within  striking  distance,  and  to  destroy  or  cap 
ture  him. 

"  After  leaving  two  officers  and  an  adequate  force 
for  the  protection  of  my  depot,  I  marched  the  next 
morning,  with  twelve  days'  rations  (my  means  of  trans 
portation  not  enabling  me  to  carry  more,)  with  the  bal 
ance  of  my  command,  consisting  of  Captain  Munroe's 
company  of  the  Fourth  artillery,  total  thirty-five  men ; 
the  First  infantry,  under  the  command  of  Lieutenant- 
Colonel  Foster,  two  hundred  and  seventy-four;  the 
Sixth  infantry,  under  Lieutenant-Colonel  Thompson, 
two  hundred  and  twenty-one ;  the  Missouri  volunteers, 
one  hundred  and  eighty  ;  Morgan's  spies,  forty-seven  ; 
pioneers,  thirty ;  pontoneers,  thirteen ;  and  seventy 
Delaware  Indians,  making  a  force,  exclusive  of  officers, 
of  one  thousand  and  thirty-two  men  ;  the  greater  part 
of  the  Shawrnees  having  been  detached,  and  the  balance 
refusing  to  accompany  me,  under  the  pretext  that  a 


40  MEETING    WITH    AN    INDIAN    CHIEF. 

Dumber  of  them  were  sick,  and  the  remainder  were 
without  moccasons. 

"  I  moved  down  the  west  side  of  the  Kissimmee,  in  a 
jouth-easterly  course,  towards  Lake  Istopoga,  for  the 
ollowing  reasons :  1st.  Because  I  knew  a  portion  of 
.he  hostiles  were  to  be  found  in  that  direction ;  2nd. 
If  General  Jesup  should  fall  in  with  the  Mickasukies 
and  drive  them,  they  might  attempt  to  elude  him  by 
crossing  the  Kissimmee,  from  the  east  to  the  west  side 
of  the  peninsula,  between  this  and  its  entrance  into  the 
Okee-cho-bee,  in  which  case  I  might  be  near  at  hand 
to  intercept  them ;  3rd.  To  overawe  and  induce  such 
of  the  enemy  who  had  been  making  propositions  to  give 
themselves  up,  and  who  appeared  very  slow,  if  not  to 
hesitate  in  complying  with  their  promises  on  that  head, 
to  surrender  at  once ;  and  lastly,  I  deemed  it  advisable 
to  erect  block-houses  and  a  small  picket  work  on  the 
Kissimmee,  for  a  third  depot,  some  thirty  or  forty  miles 
below  this,  and  obtain  a  knowledge  of  the  intervening 
country,  as  I  had  no  guide  who  could  be  relied  on,  and 
by  this  means  open  a  communication  with  Colonel 
Smith,  who  was  operating  up  the  Caloosehatchee,  or 
Sangbel  river,  under  my  orders. 

"  Late  in  the  evening  of  the  first  day's  march,  I  met 
the  Indian  chief  Jumper,  with  his  family  and  a  part  of 
his  band,  consisting  of  fifteen  men,  a  part  of  them  with 
families,  and  a  few  negroes,  in  all  -  sixty-three  souls,  on 
his  way  to  give  himself  up,  in  conformity  to  a  previous 
arrangement  I  had  entered  into  with  him.  They  were 
conducted  by  Captain  Parks  and  a  few  Shawnees.  He 
(Parks)  is  an  active,  intelligent  half-breed,  who  is  at  the 
head  of  the  friendly  Indians,  both  Shawnees  and  Dela- 
wares,  and  who  I  had  employed  to  arrange  and  bring 
in  Jumper  and  as  many  of  his  people  as  he  could  pre- 


INDIAN    TREACHERY.  41 

vail  on  to  come  in.  We  encamped  that  night  near  the 
same  spot,  and  the  next  morning  having  ordered  Cap 
tain  Parks  to  join  me  and  take  command  of  the  Dela- 
wares,  and  having  dispatched  Jumper,  in  charge  of 
some  Shawnees,  to  this  place,  and  so  on  to  Fort  Fra- 
zier,  I  continued  my  march,  after  having  sent  forward 
three  friendly  Seminoles  to  gain  intelligence  as  to  the 
position  of  the  enemy. 

"  About  noon  the  same  day,  I  sent  forward  one  bat 
talion  of  Gentry's  regiment,  under  command  of  Lieu 
tenant-Colonel  Price,  to  pick  up  any  stragglers  that 
might  fall  in  his  way,  to  encamp  two  or  three  miles  in 
advance  of  the  main  force,  to  act  with  great  circum 
spection,  and  to  communicate  promptly  any  occurrence 
that  might  take  place  in  his  vicinity  important  for  me 
to  know.  About  10,  P.  M.,  I  received  a  note  from  the 
colonel,  stating  that  the  three  Seminoles  sent  forward 
in  the  morning  had  returned  ;  that  they  had  been  at  or 
near  where  Alligator  had  encamped,  twelve  or  fifteen 
miles  in  his  advance ;  that  he  (Alligator)  had  left  there 
with  a  part  of  his  family  four  days  before,  under  the 
pretext  of  separating  his  relations,  &c.,  from  the  Micka- 
sukies,  preparatory  to  his  surrendering  with  them ;  that 
there  were  several  families  remaining  at  the  camp  re 
ferred  to,  who  wished  to  give  themselves  up,  and  would 
remain  there  until  we  took  possession  of  them,  unless 
they  were  forcibly  carried  off  that  night  by  the  Micka- 
sukies,  who  wrere  encamped  at  no  great  distance  from 
them. 

"  In  consequence  of  this  intelligence,  after  directing 
Lieutenant-Colonel  Davenport  to  follow  me  early  in 
the  morning  with  the  infantry,  a  little  after  midnight 
I  put  myself  at  the  head  of  the  residue  of  the  mounted 
men  and  joined  Lieutenant-Colonel  Price,  proceeded 


42  A    MARCH    BY    NIGHT. 

on,  crossing  Istopoga  outlet,  and  soon  after  daylight 
took  possession  of  the  encampment  referred  to,  where 
I  found  the  inmates,  who  had  not  been  disturbed.  They 
consisted  of  an  old  man,  and  two  young  ones,  and  sev 
eral  women  and  children,  amounting  in  all  to  twenty- 
two  individuals.  The  old  man  informed  me  that  Alli 
gator  was  very  anxious  to  separate  his  people  from  the 
Mickasukies,  wrho  were  encamped  on  the  opposite  side 
of  the  Kissimmee,  distant  about  twenty  miles,  where 
they  would  fight  us.  I  sent  him  to  Alligator  to  say  to 
him,  if  he  were  sincere  in  his  professions,  to  meet  me 
the  next  day  at  the  Kissimmee,  where  the  trail  I  was 
marching  on  crossed,  and  where  I  should  halt. 

"  As  soon  as  the  infantry  came  up  I  moved  on  to  the 
place  designated,  which  I  reached  late  that  evening, 
and  W7here  I  encamped.  About  11  P.  M.,  the  old  In 
dian  returned,  bringing  a  very  equivocal  message  from 
Alligator,  who,  he  stated,  he  had  met  accidentally; 
also,  that  the  Mickasukies  were  still  encamped  where 
they  had  been  for  some  days,  and  where  they  were  de 
termined  to  fight  us. 

"  I  determined  at  once  on  indulging  them  as  soon  as 
practicable.  Accordingly,  next  morning,  after  laying 
out  a  small  stockade  work  for  the  protection  of  a  future 
depot,  in  order  to  enable  me  to  move  with  the  greatest 
celerity,  1  deposited  the  whole  of  my  heavy  baggage, 
including  artillery,  &c.,  and  having  provisioned  the 
command  to  include  the  26th,  after  leaving  Captain 
Munroe  with  his  company,  the  pioneer,  pontoneers,  with 
eighty-five  sick  and  disabled  infantry,  and  a  portion  of 
the  friendly  Indians,  who  alleged  that  they  were  unable 
to  march  farther,  crossed  the  Kissimmee,  taking  the  old 
Indian  as  a  guide  who  had  been  captured  the  day  be 
fore,  and  who  accompanied  us  with  great  apparent  re- 


ALLIGATOR'S  CAMP.  43 

luctance,  in  pursuit  of  the  enemy,  and  early  the  next 
day  reached  Alligator's  encampment,  situated  on  the 
edge  of  Cabbage-tree  Hammock,  in  the  midst  of  a  large 
prairie,  from  the  appearance  of  which,  and  other  en 
campments  in  the  vicinity,  and  the  many  evidences  of 
slaughtered  cattle,  there  must  have  been  several  hun 
dred  individuals. 

"  At  another  small  hammock,  at  no  great  distance 
from  Alligator's  encampment,  and  surrounded  by  a 
swamp  impassable  for  mounted  men,  the  spies  surprised 
an  encampment  containing  one  old  man,  four  young 
men,  and  some  women  and  children.  One  of  the  party 
immediately  raised  a  white  flag,  when  the  men  were 
taken  possession  of,  and  brought  across  the  swamp  to 
the  main  body.  I  proceeded  with  an  interpreter  to 
meet  them.  They  proved  to  be  Seminoles,  and  pro 
fessed  to  be  friendly.  They  stated  that  they  were  pre 
paring  to  come  in  ;  they  had  just  slaughtered  a  number 
of  cattle,  and  were  employed  in  drying  and  jerking  the 
same.  They  also  informed  me  that  the  Mickasukies, 
headed  by  A-vi-a-ka,  (Sam  Jones,)  were  some  ten  or 
twelve  miles  distant,  encamped  in  a  swamp,  and  were 
prepared  to  fight. 

"  Although  I  placed  but  little  confidence  in  their  pro 
fessions  of  friendship,  or  their  intentions  of  coming  in 
yet  I  had  no  time  to  look  up  their  women  and  chil 
dren,  who  had  fled  and  concealed  themselves  in  the 
swamp,  or  to  have  encumbered  myself  with  them  in 
the  situation  in  which  I  then  was.  Accordingly,  I 
released  the  old  man,  who  promised  that  he  would  col 
lect  all  the  women  and  children  and  take  them  in  to 
Captain  Munroe,  at  the  Kissimmee,  the  next  day.  I 
also  dismissed  the  old  man  who  had  acted  as  guide  thus 


44  DISPOSITIONS    FOR    BATTLE. 

far,  supplying  his  place  with  the  four  able  warriors  who 
had  been  captured  that  morning. 

"  These  arrangements  being  made,  I  moved  under 
their  guidance  for  the  camp  of  the  Mickasukies.  Be 
tween  two  and  three,  P.  M.,  we  reached  a  very  dense 
cypress  swamp,  through  which  we  were  compelled  to 
pass,  and  in  which  our  guide  informed  us  we  might  be 
attacked.  After  making  the  necessary  dipositions  for 
battle,  it  was  ascertained  that  there  was  no  enemy  to 
oppose  us.  The  army  crossed  over  and  encamped  for 
the  night,  it  being  late.  During  the  passage  of  the 
rear,  Captain  Parks,  who  was  in  advance  with  a  few 
friendly  Indians,  fell  in  with  two  of  the  enemies'  spies, 
between  two  and  three  miles  of  our  camp,  one  on 
horseback,  the  other  on  foot,  and  succeeded  in  captur 
ing  the  latter.  He  was  an  active  young  warrior,  armed 
with  an  excellent  rifle,  fifty  balls  in  his  pouch,  and  an 
adequate  proportion  of  powder.  This  Indian  confirmed 
the  information  which  had  been  previously  received 
from  the  other  Indians,  and,  in  addition,  stated  that  a 
large  body  of  Seminoles,  headed  by  John  Cohua,  Co-a- 
coo-chee,  and,  no  doubt,  Alligator,  with  other  chiefs, 
were  encamped  five  or  six  miles  from  us,  near  the 
Mickasukies,  with  a  cypress  swamp  and  dense  ham 
mock  between  them  and  the  latter. 

"  The  army  moved  forward  at  daylight  the  next 
morning,  and  after  marching  five  or  six  miles,  reached 
the  camp  of  the  Seminoles  on  the  border  of  another 
cypress  swamp,  which  must  have  contained  several 
hundred,  and  bore  evident  traces  of  having  been  aban 
doned  in  a  great  hurry,  as  the  fires  were  still  burning, 
and  quantities  of  beef  lying  on  the  ground  uncon- 
sumed. 

"  Here  the  troops  were  again  disposed  in  order  of 


THE    FINAL    ARRANGEMENTS.  45 

battle,  but  we  found  no  enemy  to  oppose  us ;  and  the 
command  was  crossed  over  about  11  A.  M.,  when  we 
entered  a  large  prairie  in  our  front,  on  which  two  or 
three  hundred  head  of  cattle  were  grazing,  and  a  num 
ber  of  Indian  ponies.  Here  another  young  Indian 
warrior  was  captured,  armed  and  equipped  as  the  for 
mer.  He  pointed  out  a  dense  hammock  on  our  right, 
about  a  mile  distant,  in  which  he  said  the  hostiles  were 
situated,  and  waiting  to  give  us  battle. 

"  At  this  place  the  final  disposition  was  made  to 
attack  them,  which  was  in  two  lines,  the  volunteers 
under  Gentry,  and  Morgan's  spies,  to  form  the  first  line 
in  extended  order,  who  were  instructed  to  enter  the 
hammock,  and  in  the  event  of  being  attacked  and  hard 
pressed,  were  to  fall  back  in  rear  of  the  regular  troops, 
out  of  reach  of  the  enemy's  fire.  The  second  was 
composed  of  the  4th  and  6th  infantry,  who  were  in 
structed  to  sustain  the  volunteers,  the  1st  infantry 
being  held  in  reserve. 

"  Moving  on  in  the  direction  of  the  hammock,  after 
proceeding  about  a  quarter  of  a  mile,  we  reached  the 
swamp  which  separated  us  from  the  enemy,  three-quar 
ters  of  a  mile  in  breadth,  being  totally  impassable  for 
horses,  and  nearly  so  for  foot,  covered  with  a  thick 
growth  of  saw-grass,  five  feet  high,  and  about  knee- 
deep  in  mud  and  water,  which  extended  to  the  left  as 
far  as  the  eye  could  reach,  and  to  the  right  to  a  part  of 
the  swamp  and  hammock  we  had  just  crossed  through, 
ran  a  deep  creek.  At  the  edge  of  the  swamp  the  men 
were  dismounted,  and  the  horses  and  baggage  left 
under  a  suitable  guard.  Captain  Allen  was  detached 
with  the  two  companies  of  mounted  infantry  to  exam 
ine  the  swamp  and  hammock  to  the  right,  and  in  case 
he  should  not  find  the  enemy  in  that  direction,  was  to 


46  THE    ATTACK    BEGUN. 

return  to  the  baggage,  and  in  the  event  of  his  hearing 
a  heavy  firing  to  join  me  immediately. 

"After  making  these  arrangements,  I  crossed  the 
swamp  in  the  order  stated.  On  reaching  the  borders 
of  the  hammock,  the  volunteers  and  spies  received  a 
heavy  fire  from  the  enemy,  which  was  returned  by 
them  for  a  short  time,  when  their  gallant  commander, 
Colonel  Gentry,  fell,  mortally  wounded.  They  mostly 
broke ;  and  instead  of  forming  in  rear  of  the  regulars, 
as  had  been  directed,  they  retired  across  the  swamp  to 
their  baggage  and  horses;  nor  could  they  again  be 
brought  into  action  as  a  body,  although  efforts  were 
made  repeatedly  by  my  staff  to  induce  them  to  do  so. 

"  The  enemy,  however,  were  promptly  checked  and 
driven  back  by  the  4th  and  6th  infantry,  which  in  truth 
might  be  said  to  be  a  moving  battery.  The  weight  of 
the  enemy's  fire  was  principally  concentrated  on  five 
companies  of  the  6th  infantry,  which  not  only  stood 
firm,  but  continued  to  advance  until  their  gallant  com 
mander,  Lieutenant-Colonel  Thompson,  and  his  adju 
tant,  Lieutenant  Center,  were  killed,  and  every  officer, 
with  one  exception,  as  well  as  most  of  the  non-commis 
sioned  officers,  including  the  sergeant-major  and  four 
of  the  orderly  sergeants,  killed  and  wounded  of  those 
companies,  when  that  portion  of  the  regiment  retired 
to  a  short  distance  and  were  again  formed,  one  of  these 
companies  having  but  four  members  left  untouched. 

"  Lieutenant-Colonel  Foster,  with  six  companies, 
amounting  in  all  to  one  hundred  and  sixty  men,  gained 
the  hammock  in  good  order,  where  he  wras  joined  by 
Captain  Noel  with  the  two  remaining  companies  of  the 
6th  infantry,  and  Captain  Gentry's  volunteers,  with  a 
few  additional  men,  continued  to  drive  the  enemy  for 
a  considerable  time,  and  by  a  change  of  front,  sepa- 


THE    KILLED    AND    WOUNDED.  47 

rated  his  line  and  continued  to  drive  him  until  he 
reached  the  great  lake,  Okee-cho-bee,  which  was  in 
the  rear  of  the  enemy's  position,  and  on  which  their 
encampment  extended  for  more  than  a  mile.  As  soon 
as  I  was  informed  that  Captain  Allen  was  advancing,  I 
ordered  the  1st  infantry  to  move  to  the  left,  gain  the 
enemy's  right  flank,  and  turn  it,  which  order  was  exe 
cuted  in  the  promptest  manner  possible,  and  as  soon 
as  that  regiment  got  in  position,  the  enemy  gave  one 
fire  and  retreated,  being  persuaded  by  the  1st,  4th,  and 
6th,  and  some  of  the  volunteers  who  had  joined  them, 
until  near  night,  and  until  these  troops  were  nearly 
exhausted,  and  the  enemy  driven  in  all  directions. 

"  The  action  was  a  severe  one,  and  continued  from 
half-past  twelve  until  three,  P.  M.,  a  part  of  the  time 
very  close  and  severe.  We  suffered  much,  having 
twenty-six  killed,  and  one  hundred  and  twelve  wounded, 
among  whom  are  some  of  our  most  valuable  officers. 
The  hostiles  probably  suffered,  all  things  considered, 
equally  with  ourselves,  they  having  left  ten  dead  on 
the  ground,  besides  doubtless,  carrying  off  more,  as  is 
customary  with  them  when  practicable. 

"  As  soon  as  the  enemy  were  completely  broken,  I 
turned  my  attention  to  taking  care  of  the  wounded,  to 
facilitate  their  removal  to  my  baggage,  where  I  ordered 
an  encampment  to  be  formed.  I  directed  Captain 
Taylor  to  cross  over  to  the  spot  and  employ  every  in 
dividual  whom  he  might  find  there  in  constructing  a 
small  footway  across  the  swamp ;  this,  with  great  ex 
ertions,  was  completed  in  a  short  time  after  dark,  when 
all  the  dead  and  wounded  were  carried  over  in  litters 
made  for  the  purpose,  writh  one  exception,  a  private  of 
the  4th  infantry,  who  wras  killed  and  could  not  be  found. 

"  And  here  I  trust  I  may  be  permitted  to  say  that  I 


48  REMOVING    THE    WOUNDED. 

experienced  one  of  the  most  trying  scenes  of  my  life, 
and  he  who  could  have  looked  on  them  with  indiffer 
ence,  his  nerves  must  have  been  differently  organized 
from  my  own.  Besides  the  killed,  there  lay  one  hun 
dred  and  twelve  wounded  officers  and  soldiers,  who 
had  accompanied  me  one  hundred  and  forty-five  miles, 
most  of  the  way  through  an  unexplored  wilderness, 
without  guides,  who  had  so  gallantly  beaten  the  enemy, 
under  my  orders,  in  his  strongest  position,  and  who  had 
to  be  conveyed  back,  through  swamps  and  hammocks, 
from  whence  we  set  out,  without  any  apparent  means 
of  doing  so.  This  service,  however,  was  encountered 
and  overcome,  and  they  have  been  conveyed  thus  far, 
and  proceeded  on  to  Tampa  Bay  on  rude  litters,  con 
structed  with  the  axe  and  knife  alone,  with  poles  and 
dry  hides — the  latter  being  found  in  great  abundance 
at  the  encampment  of  the  hostiles.  The  litters  were 
carried  on  the  backs  of  our  weak  and  tottering  horses, 
aided  by  the  residue  of  the  command,  with  more  ease 
and  comfort  to  the  sufferers  than  I  could  have  supposed, 
and  with  as  much  as  they  could  have  been  in  ambu 
lances  of  the  most  improved  and  modern  construction. 

"  The  day  after  the  battle  we  remained  at  our  en 
campment,  occupied  in  taking  care  of  the  wounded, 
and  in  the  sad  office  of  interring  the  dead ;  also  in  pre 
paring  litters  for  the  removal  of  the  wounded,  and  col 
lecting,  with  a  portion  of  the  mounted  men,  the  horses 
and  cattle  in  the  vicinity  belonging  to  the  enemy,  of 
which  we  found  about  one  hundred  of  the  former, 
many  of  them  saddled,  and  nearly  three  hundred  of 
the  latter. 

"  We  left  our  encampment  on  the  morning  of  the 
27th,  for  the  Kissimmee,  where  I  had  left  my  heavy  bag 
gage,  which  place  we  reached  about  noon  on  the  28th. 


LIEUTENANT-COLONEL  DAVENPORT.         49 

After  leaving  two  companies  and  a  few  Indians  to  gar 
rison  the  stockade,  which  I  found  nearly  completed  on 
my  return,  by  that  active  and  vigilant  officer,  Captain 
Munroe,  4th  artillery,  I  left  the  next  morning  for  this 
place,  where  I  arrived  on  the  31st,  and  sent  forward 
the  wounded  next  day  to  Tampa  Bay,  writh  the  4th 
and  6th  infantry,  the  former  to  halt  at  Fort  Frazer,  re 
maining  here  myself  with  the  1st,  in  order  to  make 
preparations  to  take  the  field  again  as  soon  as  my  horses 
can  be  recruited,  most  of  which  have  been  sent  to 
Tampa,  and  my  supplies  in  a  sufficient  state  of  for 
wardness  to  justify  the  measure. 

"  In  speaking  of  the  command,  I  can  only  say,  that 
so  far  as  the  regular  troops  are  concerned,  no  one 
could  have  been  more  efficiently  sustained  than  I  have 
been,  from  the  commencement  of  the  campaign  ;  and 
I  am  certain  that  they  will  always  be  willing  and  ready 
to  discharge  any  duty  that  may  be  assigned  them. 

"  To  Lieutenant-Colonel  Davenport,  and  the  officers 
and  soldiers  of  the  First  infantry,  I  feel  under  many 
obligations  for  the  manner  in  which  they  have,  on  all 
occasions,  discharged  their  duty  ;  and  although  held  in 
reserve,  and  not  brought  into  battle  until  near  its  close, 
the  eagerness  it  evinced  to  engage,  and  the  prompt 
ness  and  good  order  with  which  they  entered  the  ham 
mock,  when  the  order  was  given  for  them  to  do  so,  is 
the  best  evidence  that  they  would  have  sustained  their 
own  characters,  as  well  as  that  of  the  regiment,  had  it 
been  their  fortune  to  have  been  placed  in  the  hottest 
of  the  battle. 

"  The  Fourth  infantry,  under  their  gallant  leader, 
Lieutenant-Colonel  Foster,  was  among  the  first  to  gain 
the  Lammock,  and  maintained  this  position,  as  well  as 
driving  a  portion  of  the  enemy  before  him,  until  he  ai- 


50  GALLANTRY    OF    THE    SIXTH. 

rived  on  the  borders  of  Lake  Okee-cho-bee,  which  was 
in  the  rear,  and  continued  the  pursuit  until  near  night. 
Lieutenant-Colonel  Foster,  who  was  favorably  noticed 
for  his  gallantry  and  good  conduct  in  nearly  all  the 
engagements  on  the  Niagara  frontier,  during  the  late 
war  with  Great  Britain,  by  his  several  commanders,  as 
well  as  in  the  different  engagements  with  the  Indians 
in  this  territory,  never  acted  a  more  conspicuous  part 
than  in  the  action  of  the  25th  ult. ;  he  speaks  in  the 
highest  terms  of  the  conduct  of  brevet  Major  Graham, 
his  second  in  command,  as  also  the  officers  and  soldiers 
of  the  Fourth  infantry,  who  were  engaged  in  the  ac 
tion.  Captain  Allen,  with  his  two  mounted  companies 
of  the  Fourth  infantry,  sustained  his  usual  character 
for  promptness  and  efficiency.  Lieutenant  Hooper,  of 
the  Fourth  regiment,  was  wounded  through  the  arm, 
but  continued  on  the  field,  at  the  head  of  his  company, 
until  the  termination  of  the  battle. 

"  I  am  not  sufficiently  master  of  words  to  express 
rny  admiration  of  the  gallantry  and  steadiness  of  the 
officers  and  soldiers  of  the  Sixth  regiment  of  infantry. 
It  was  their  fortune  to  bear  the  brunt  of  the  battle. 
The  report  of  the  killed  and  wounded,  which  accom 
panies  this,  is  more  conclusive  evidence  of  their  merits 
than  anything  I  can  say.  After  five  companies  of  this 
regiment,  against  which  the  enemy  directed  the  most 
deadly  fire,  were  nearly  cut  up,  there  being  only  four 
men  left  uninjured  in  one  of  them ;  and  every  officer 
and  orderly  sergeant  of  those  companies,  with  one  ex 
ception,  were  either  killed  or  wounded  ;  Captain  Noel, 
with  the  remaining  two  companies,  his  own  company, 
"  K.,"  and  Grossman's,  "  B.,"  commanded  by  second 
Lieutenant  Woods,  which  was  the  left  of  the  regiment, 
formed  on  the  right  of  the  Fourth  infantry,  entered 


MISSOURI    VOLUNTEERS.  51 

the  hammock  with  that  regiment,  and  continued  the 
fight  and  the  pursuit  until  its  termination.  It  is  due 
to  Captain  Andrews  and  Lieutenant  Walker,  to  say 
they  commanded  two  of  the  five  companies  mentioned 
above,  and  they  continued  to  direct  them,  until  they 
were  both  severely  wounded,  and  carried  from  the 
field  ;  the  latter  received  three  separate  balls. 

"  The  Missouri  volunteers,  under  the  command  of 
Colonel  Gentry,  and  Morgan's  spies,  who  formed  the 
first  line,  and,  of  course,  were  the  first  engaged,  acted 
as  well,  or  even  better,  than  troops  of  that  description 
generally  do ;  they  received  and  returned  the  enemy's 
fire  with  spirit,  for  some  time,  when  they  broke  and 
retired,  with  the  exception  of  Captain  Gillam  and  a 
few  of  his  company,  and  Lieutenant  Blakey,  also  with 
a  few  men,  who  joined  the  regulars,  and  acted  with 
them,  until  after  the  close  of  the  battle,  but  not  until 
they  had  suffered  severely ;  the  commanding  officer 
of  the  volunteers,  Colonel  Gentry,  being  mortally 
wounded  while  leading  on  his  men,  and  encouraging 
them  to  enter  the  hammock,  and  come  to  close  quar 
ters  with  the  enemy  ;  his  son,  an  interesting  youth, 
eighteen  or  nineteen  years  of  age,  sergeant-major  of 
the  regiment,  was  severely  wounded  at  the  same  mo 
ment. 

"  Captain  Childs,  Lieutenants  Rogers  and  Flanagan, 
of  Gentry's  regiment,  acting  Major  Sconce,  and  Lieu 
tenants  Hase  and  Gordon,  of  the  spies,  were  wounded, 
while  encouraging  their  men  to  a  discharge  of  their 
duty. 

"  The  volunteers  and  spies  having,  as  before  stated, 
fallen  back  to  the  baggage,  could  not  again  be  formed 
and  brought  up  to  the  hammock  in  anything  like  order , 
but  a  number  of  them  crossed  over  individually,  and 


52  GENERAL  TAYLOR'S  STAFF. 

aided  in  conveying  the  wounded  across  the  swamp  to 
the  hammock,  among  whom  were  Captain  Curd,  and 
several  other  officers,  whose  names  I  do  not  now 
recollect. 

"  To  my  personal  staff,  consisting  of  first  Lieutenant 
J.  M.  Hill,  of  the  Second,  and  first  Lieutenant  Georgs 
H.  Griffin,  of  the  Sixth  infantry,  the  latter  aide-de-camp 
to  Major  General  Gaines,  and  a  volunteer  -in  Florida 
from  his  staff,  I  feel  under  the  greatest  obligations  for 
the  promptness  and  efficiency  with  which  they  have 
sustained  me  throughout  the  campaign,  and  more  par 
ticularly  for  their  good  conduct,  and  the  alacrity  with 
which  they  aided  me,  and  conveyed  my  orders  during 
the  action  of  the  25th  ult. 

"  Captain  Taylor,  commissary  of  subsistence,  who 
was  ordered  to  join  General  Jesup  at  Tampa  Bay,  as 
chief  of  the  subsistence  department,  and  who  was 
ordered  by  him  to  remain  with  his  column  until  he 
(General  Jesup)  joined  it,  although  no  command  was 
assigned  Captain  Taylor,  he  greatly  exerted  himself  in 
trying  to  rally  and  bring  back  the  volunteers  into  ac 
tion,  as  well  as  discharging  other  important  duties 
which  were  assigned  to  him  during  the  action. 

"  Myself,  as  well  as  all  who  witnessed  the  attention 
and  ability  displayed  by  Surgeon  Satterlee,  medical 
director  on  this  side  the  peninsula,  assisted  by  Assistant- 
surgeons  McLaren  and  Simpson,  of  the  medical  staff 
of  the  army,  and  Doctors  Hannah  and  Cooke,  of  the 
Missouri  volunteers,  in  ministering  to  the  wounded,  as 
well  as  their  uniform  kindness  to  them  on  all  occasions, 
can  never  cease  to  be  referred  to  by  me  but  with  the 
most  pleasing  and  grateful  recollections. 

"  The  quartermaster's  department,  under  the  direc 
tion  of  that  efficient  officer,  Major  Brant,  and  his  as- 


FRUITS    OF    THE    VICTORY.  53 

sistant,  Lieutenant  Babbitt,  have  done  everything  that 
could  be  accomplished  to  throw  forward  from  Tampa 
Bay,  and  keep  up  supplies  of  provisions,  forage,  etc., 
with  the  limited  means  at  their  disposal.  Assistant- 
commissaries  Lieutenants  Harrison,  stationed  at  Fort 
Gardner,  and  McClure,  at  Fort  Fraser,  have  fully  met 
my  expectations  in  discharge  of  the  various  duties 
connected  with  their  department,  as  well  as  those 
assigned  them  in  the  quartermaster's  department. 

"This  column,  in  six  weeks,  penetrated  one  hun 
dred  and  fifty  miles  into  the  enemy's  country,  opened 
roads,  and  constructed  bridges  and  causeways,  when 
necessary,  on  the  greater  portion  of  the  route,  estab 
lished  two  depots,  and  the  necessary  defences  for  the 
same,  and  finally  overtook  and  beat  the  enemy  in  his 
strongest  position.  The  results  of  which  movement 
and  battle  have  been  the  capture  of  thirty  of  the  hos- 
tiles,  the  coming  in  and  surrendering  of  more  than 
one  hundred  and  fifty  Indians  and  negroes,  mostly  the 
former,  including  the  chiefs  Ou-la-too-gee,  Tus-ta-nug- 
gee,  and  other  principal  men,  the  capturing  and  driving 
out  of  the  country  six  hundred  head  of  cattle,  upwards 
of  one  hundred  head  of  horses,  besides  obtaining  a 
thorough  knowledge  of  the  country  through  which  we 
operated,  a  greater  portion  of  which  was  entirely  un 
known,  except  to  the  enemy. 

"  Colonel  Gentry  died  in  a  few  hours  after  the  battle, 
much  regretted  by  the  army,  and  will  be,  doubtless, 
by  all  who  knew  him,  as  his  state  did  not  contain  a 
braver  man  or  a  better  citizen. 

"  It  is  due  to  his  rank  and  talents,  as  well  as  to  his 
long  and  important  services,  that  I  particularly  men 
tion  Lieutenant  Colonel  A.  R.  Thompson,  of  the  Sixth 
infantry,  who  fell,  in  the  discharge  of  his  duty,  at  the 


54          DEATH    OF    LIEUTENANT-COLONEL    THOMPSON. 

head  of  his  regiment.  He  was  in  feeble  health,  brought 
on  by  exposure  to  this  climate  during  the  past  summer, 
refusing  to  leave  the  country  while  his  regiment  con 
tinued  in  it.  Although  he  received  two  balls  from  the 
fire  of  the  enemy,  early  in  the  action,  which  wounded 
him  severely,  yet  he  appeared  to  disregard  them,  and 
continued  to  give  his  orders  with  the  same  coolness 
that  he  would  have  done  had  his  regiment  been  under 
review,  or  on  any  parade  duty.  Advancing,  he  re 
ceived  a  third  ball,  which  at  once  deprived  him  of 
life.  His  last  words  were,  "  keep  steady,  men,  charge  the 
hammock — remember  the  regiment  to  which  you  be- 
iong."  I  had  known  Colonel  Thompson  personally  only 
for  a  short  time,  and  the  more  I  knew  of  him  the  more 
I  wished  to  know ;  and  had  his  life  been  spared,  our 
acquaintance,  no  doubt,  would  have  ripened  into  the 
closest  friendship.  Under  such  circumstances,  there 
are  few,  if  any,  other  than  his  bereaved  wife,  mother, 
and  sisters,  who  more  deeply  and  sincerely  lament  his 
loss,  or  who  will  longer  cherish  his  memory  than  myself. 

"  Captain  Van  Swearingen,  Lieutenant  Brooke,  and 
Lieutenant  and  Adjutant  Center,  of  the  same  regiment, 
who  fell  on  that  day,  had  no  superiors  of  their  years  in 
service,  and,  in  point  of  chivalry,  ranked  among  the 
first  in  the  army  or  nation  ;  besides  their  pure  and  dis 
interested  courage,  they  possessed  other  qualifications, 
which  qualified  them  to  fill  the  highest  grades  of  their 
profession,  which,  no  doubt,  they  would  have  attained 
and  adorned,  had  their  lives  been  spared.  The  two 
former  served  with  me  on  another  arduous  and  trying 
campaign,  and  on  every  occasion,  whether  in  the  camp, 
on  the  march,  or  on  the  field  of  battle,  discharged  their 
various  duties  to  my  entire  satisfaction/* 

The  gallantry  and  good  conduct  of  Colonel  Taylor, 


GENERAL  TAYLOR  PROMOTED.  55 

in  this  hard  fought  and  important  battle,  received  the 
highest  commendation  of  Mr.  Poinsett,  the  Secretary 
of  War,  General  Macomb,  the  commander-in-chief  of 
the  army,  and  the  country  at  large.  General  Macomb 
issued  a  general  order  to  the  army,  upon  the  occasion 
of  his  victory,  in  which  he  especially  referred  to  his 
bravery  in  the  following  terms  :  "  To  Colonel  Taylor 
and  the  officers,  non-commissioned  officers  and  troops 
of  the  regular  army,  the  Secretary  of  War  tenders  the 
thanks  of  the  President  of  the  United  States  for  the  dis 
cipline  and  bravery  displayed  by  them  on  the  occasion ; 
as,  likewise,  to  the  officers  and  volunteers  of  Missouri, 
who  shared  in  the  conflict,  and  who  evinced  so  much 
zeal  and  gallantry  in  bringing  on  the  action."  He  also 
received  the  brevet  rank  of  Brigadier  General,  and  was 
given  the  chief  command  of  the  operations  in  Florida, 
in  consideration  of  his  valuable  services,  which  he  re 
tained  until  the  year  1840,  having  continued  four  years 
in  that  harassing  and  dangerous  service. 

Immediately  succeeding  this  victory  General  Taylor 
took  up  his  position  at  Fort  Bassinger,  in  Florida. 
Here  he  remained  for  several  months,  harassing  the 
enemy,  by  cutting  off  their  small  parties,  capturing 
several  of  their  principal  chiefs,  and  taking  their  cattle 
and  means  of  subsistence.  On  the  8th  of  February, 
1838,  an  officer  of  high  standing  in  General  Taylor's 
army,  stationed  at  Fort  Bassinger,  gave  the  following 
account  of  their  operations  : 

"  We  (Colonel  Taylor's  army),  have  just  returned 
from  the  everglades.  These  everglades  are,  at  the 
northwest,  termed  wet  prairies.  They  are  large  wet 
prairies,  or  grassy  lakes,  and  of  which  the  Indians  know 
but  little,  and  where  they  cannot  live  a  month  without 
great  suffering. 


56  LETTER    FROM    HIS    CAMP. 

"  We  saw  but  few  Indians,  and  they  fled  rapidly  at 
our  approach.  We  took  about  sixty  horses,  and  ascer 
tained  that  their  cattle  were  exhausted.  Colonel  Tay 
lor  has  taken  about  six  hundred  head.  We  found  on 
our  last  excursion  but  few  cattle  tracks,  and  only  two 
cows  were  taken.  The  Indians  are  suffering  for  food ; 
in  all  their  camps  we  find  they  had  subsisted  on  pal 
metto  roots  and  the  cabbage  tree,  which  are  never 
eaten  by  them  except  when  hard  run. 

"  One  hundred  and  thirty  Indians  and  Negroes  have 
come  in  since  the  battle  of  Okee-cho-bee,  and  they  say 
many  more  will  come  in  soon,  and  that  they  are  tired 
of  the  war,  and  destitute  of  provisions. 

"  Florida  is  generally  a  poor,  sandy  country.  The 
southern  portion  is  nearly  all  prairie,  wet  and  dry  alter 
nately.  Not  more  than  one  tenth,  at  the  utmost,  of 
Florida  is  fit  for  cultivation,  and  I  would  not  give  one 
good  township  of  land  in  Illinois  or  Michigan  for  every 
foot  of  land  in  East  Florida. 

"  The  Indian  prisoners  now  admit  that  they  lost 
twenty  in  the  fight  with  Colonel  Taylor.  They  had  a 
strong  position,  and  fought  well,  but  were  terribly  whip 
ped,  and  have  never  returned  near  the  ground  since." 

An  anecdote  is  told  of  the  general  while  stationed  at 
this  fort  that  is  as  amusing  as  it  is  characteristic.  He 
had  a  favorite  horse  which  he  called  "  Claybank,"  a 
very  fine  animal,  and  much  attached  to  his  master. 
But  he  did  not  much  fancy  the  musty  corn  often  fur 
nished  the  troops.  The  general  used  to  partake  of 
the  same  fare  as  his  soldiers,  and  so  did  Claybank,  so 
far  as  the  corn  was  concerned,  and  they  were  both 
equally  dainty.  The  general  was  very  fond  of  hominy, 
and  musty  corn  made  anything  but  a  pleasant  diet. 
He  would  subject  himself  to  the  suspicion  of  "  picking," 


ANECDOTE  OF  GENERAL  TAYLOR.          57 

to  the  prejudice  of  the  soldiers,  rather  than  eat  it,  when 
not  compelled  to.  Finding  that  Claybank  understood 
that  business  better  than  he  did,  he  would  quietly  let 
him  loose  amongst  the  sacks  of  corn.  After  smelling 
very  carefully,  the  sagacious  animal  would  commence 
gnawing  a  hole  in  one  that  pleased  him.  The  gene 
ral  would  patiently  watch  the  manoeuvre  until  he  saw 
that  Claybank  had  made  a  choice,  then  calling  his  ser 
vants,  he  would  direct  him  to  have  Claybank  stabled 
immediately,  for  fear  he  might  do  mischief;  "but,"  he 
would  say,  "  as  the  animal  has  eaten  a  hole  in  the  bag, 
take  out  a  quart  or  so  of  the  corn  and  make  a  dish  of 
hominy.  The  trick  was  played  for  some  time,  but  at 
last  it  became  known,  that  whenever  Claybank  gnawed 
into  a  sack,  sweet  corn  was  to  be  found  there,  and  the 
incident  became  a  standing  joke  during  the  war,  and 
it  was  enjoyed  by  none  more  heartily  than  by  the  sub 
ject  of  it  himself. 

After  his  resignation  of  this  command,  he  was  as 
signed  to  that  of  the  First  Department  of  the  army,  in 
cluding  the  States  of  Louisiana,  Mississippi,  Alabama, 
Arkansas,  &c.,  with  his  head-quarters  at  Fort  Jessup, 
in  the  former  State.  There  he  remained  in  the  quiet 
but  vigilant  attention  to  the  duties  devolving  upon  him, 
until  his  services  should  be  required  on  a  wider  and 
more  extended  field. 

Before  accompanying  General  Taylor  to  the  new 
theatre,  upon  which  he  is  to  act  so  glorious  a  part,  and 
where  his  brilliant  deeds  are  to  stand  out  so  promi 
nently  before  the  world,  it  may  not  be  inappropriate  to 
refer  to  one  or  two  circumstances  in  the  history  of  his 
operations  in  Florida,  that  have  been  the  subjects  of 
some  discussion  before  the  public,  and  have  produced 
a  contrariety  of  opinions  in  the  public  mind. 


58  SOUGHT    TO    BE    CENSURED. 

It  will  have  been  observed,  that  in  his  official  account 
of  the  battle  of  Okee-cho-bee,  General  Taylor  took  oc 
casion,  as  truth  and  the  interests  of  the  service  required 
him  to  do,  to  refer  to  the  conduct  of  the  Missouri  vol 
unteers  and  spies  in  that  engagement.  He  could  do 
no  less  than  to  report  to  the  War  Department  the  sim 
ple  fact  that  these  troops  fell  into  disorder  and  finally 
fled,  after  having  gallantly  attacked  the  enemy.  This 
he  did  in  as  mild  terms  as  he  could  well  employ.  But 
nevertheless,  his  report  gave  great  offence  to  the  people 
of  Missouri,  and  General  Taylor  was  unsparingly  de 
nounced  for  his  injustice  to  the  volunteers  and  spies  ot 
that  State.  Amongst  other  means  of  expressing  theii 
dissatisfaction,  Mr.  Atchinson,  then  a  member  of  the 
State  Legislature,  and  subsequently  a  member  of  the 
United  States  Senate,  made  a  stringent  report  on  the 
subject,  and  also  introduced  a  string  of  resolutions  of  a 
very  indignant  character,  which  were  appended  to  it. 
No  definite  action  was  ever  had  on  either,  however, 
and  public  opinion  finally  settled  down  into  the  belief 
that  facts  fully  sustained  General  Taylor,  and  that  if 
the  Missouri  volunteers  did  not  evince  the  same  un 
yielding  courage  as  veteran  soldiers,  there  was  much 
in  the  circumstances  of  the  case  to  palliate  their  con 
duct,  especially  as  their  first  charge  was  made  with  so 
much  courage  and  effect. 

There  is  another  circumstance  in  the  history  of  the 
Florida  war,  with  which  General  Taylor's  name  has 
been  associated,  that  requires  a  brief  reference,  and 
that  is  the  employment  of  bloodhounds  to  lead  to  the 
hiding  places  of  the  Indians.  No  event  of  the  whole 
war  was  so  severely  criticized  and  condemned  as  this 
act  of  the  administration.  It  was  natural  in  times  of 
high  political  excitement,  when  only  the  simple  fact 


EMPLOYMENT    OF    BLOODHOUNDS.  59 

was  known  to  the  country,  without  any  of  the  reasons 
that  led  to  a  measure  that  seemed  so  repulsive  to  hu 
manity,  or  the  particular  object  for  which  they  were 
employed,  that  it  should  have  been  so.  The  measure 
is  one  that  even  now,  after  the  passions  of  men  have 
become  calmed,  cannot  be  approved,  though  there  is 
much  to  palliate  it,  and  much  more  to  free  General 
Taylor  from  any  charge  of  inhumanity  in  advising  the 
employment  of  these  savage  agents. 

The  war  had  been  waged  for  several  years  against 
an  invisible  enemy,  at  an  expense  of  many  millions  of 
money,  and  a  vast  sacrifice  of  life.  Our  soldiers  were 
attacked  and  our  best  troops  shot  down  at  noonday, 
by  a  foe  that  defied  all  search.  After  discharging  a 
deadly  volley  at  our  soldiers,  they  would  betake  them 
selves  to  impenetrable  thickets,  and  there  lay  securely 
concealed  until  another  opportunity  presented  of  poun 
cing  down  upon  small  parties  of  troops,  and  again  flee 
to  their  hiding  places.  It  was  to  find  these  hidden 
enemies  that  General  Taylor  recommended  to  the  de 
partment  the  employment  of  bloodhounds.  He  says, 
in  a  letter  to  the  Adjutant  General  of  the  army,  dated 
July  28,  1838:  "I  wish  it  distinctly  understood,  that 
my  object  in  employing  dogs,  is  to  ascertain  where 
the  Indians  can  be  found,  not  to  injure  them."  If  any 
thing  were  wanted  to  exempt  General  Taylor  from  an 
implication  of  cruelty  for  his  agency  in  the  affair,  this 
explicit  avowal  of  his  motives  will  be  sufficient.  But 
he  has  on  too  many  occasions,  both  before  and  since, 
given  such  evidence  of  his  humane  inclinations,  that 
however  mistaken  any  one  may  be  disposed  to  consider 
him,  no  one  will  do  himself  and  a  brave  man  the  injus 
tice  to  deny  him  that  noble  virtue  in  an  eminent  degree. 


CHAPTER  III. 

Admission  of  Texas  into  the  Union. — Indirect  Cause  of  the  Mexican 
War. — War  Recognized  by  the  American  Congress. — Prominent  part 
General  Taylor  has  acted  since  its  Commencement. — Orders  of  the 
War  Department  to  him. — Texas  accepts  the  conditions  of  Annexa 
tion  offered  by  the  United  States. — Ultimate  Views  of  Government. — 
General  Taylor  arrives  at  Corpus  Christi. — Extracts  of  the  Official 
Correspondence  between  him  and  the  Secretary  of  War. — Intentions 
of  the  American  Government. 

ON  the  first  day  of  March,  1845,  Texas  was  admitted 
into  the  Union,  by  a  joint  resolution  of  the  Congress 
of  the  United  States.  Though  this  act  was  not  the 
immediate  cause  of  the  rupture  between  the  United 
States  and  Mexico,  it  led  to  the  adoption  of  measures 
which  brought  the  armies  of  the  two  governments  into 
collision,  and  terminated  in  a  declaration  of  the  exist 
ence  of  war  by  the  American  government.  But  whether 
the  war  was  declared  formally  or  not,  according  to  the 
laws  of  nations,  having  virtually  been  commenced,  it 
was  recognized  and  adopted,  and  the  American  people, 
with  a  unanimity  not  shown  even  in  the  last  war  with 
Great  Britain,  and  notwithstanding  there  was  a  differ 
ence  of  opinion  as  to  the  necessity  and  justice  of  it, 
everywhere  evinced  their  willingness  to  assist  the  gov 
ernment  to  prosecute  it  with  vigor,  or  end  it  with 
honor. 

Amongst  those  whose  names  are  more  intimately 
Connected  with  the  prosecution  of  this  war  than  that 


PRIVATE    INSTRUCTIONS.  61 

of  any  other  of  the  brave  men  who  have  added  such 
lustre  to  the  American  arms  during  its  continuance,  by 
their  gallant  deeds,  is  that  of  General  ZACHARY  TAYLOR. 

Soon  after  the  annexation  of  Texas,  General  Taylor, 
who  was  then  stationed  at  Fort  Jessup,  in  Louisiana, 
received  the  following  communication,  from  Mr.  Marcy 
Secretary  of  War,  marked  "  confidential,"  and  dated 
"War  Department,  May  28,  1845:" 

"  SIR  : — I  am  directed  by  the  President  to  cause  the 
forces  now  under  your  command,  and  those  which  may 
be  assigned  to  it,  to  be  put  into  a  position  where  they 
may  most  promptly  and  efficiently  act  in  defence  of 
Texas,  in  the  event  it  shall  become  necessary  or  proper 
to  employ  them  for  that  purpose.  The  information  re 
ceived  by  the  Executive  of  the  United  States  warrants 
the  belief  that  Texas  will  shortly  accede  to  the  terms 
of  annexation.  As  soon  as  the  Texas  Congress  shall 
have  given  its  consent  to  annexation,  and  a  convention 
shall  assemble  and  accept  the  terms  offered  in  the  reso 
lutions  of  Congress,  Texas  will  then  be  regarded  by  the 
executive  government  here,  so  far  a  part  of  the  United 
States  as  to  be  entitled  from  this  government  to  defence 
and  protection  from  foreign  invasion  and  Indian  incur 
sions.  The  troops  under  your  command  will  be  placed 
and  kept  in  readiness  to  perform  this  duty. 

"  In  the  letter  addressed  to  you  from  the  Adjutant 
General's  office,  of  the  21st  of  March,  you  were  in 
structed  to  hold  a  portion  of  the  troops  under  your  im 
mediate  command  in  readiness  to  move  into  Texas 
under  certain  contingencies,  and  upon  further  orders 
from  this  department.  In  the  treaty  between  the 
United  States  and  Mexico,  the  two  governments  mu 
tually  stipulated  to  use  all  the  means  in  their  power  to 
maintain  peace  and  harmony  among  the  Indian  nations 


62  VIEWS    OF    THE    GOVERNMENT. 

inhabiting  the  lands  on  their  borders,  and  to  restrain 
by  force  any  hostilities  and  incursions  by  these  nations 
within  their  respective  boundaries,  so  that  the  one  would 
not  suffer  the  Indians  within  its  limits  to  attack,  in  any 
manner  whatever,  the  citizens  of  the  other,  or  the  In 
dians  residing  upon  the  territories  of  the  other.  The 
obligations  which  in  this  respect  are  due  to  Mexico  by 
this  treaty,  are  due  also  to  Texas.  Should  the  Indians 
residing  within  the  limits  of  the  United  States,  either  by 
themselves,  or  associated  with  others,  attempt  any  hos 
tile  movements  in  regard  to  Texas,  it  will  be  your  duty 
to  employ  the  troops  under  your  command  to  repel  and 
chastise  them,  and  for  this  purpose  you  will  give  the 
necessary  instructions  to  the  military  posts  on  the  up 
per  Red  river,  (although  not  under  your  immediate 
command,)  and,  with  the  approbation  of  the  Texan 
authorities,  make  such  movements,  and  take  such  po 
sition,  within  the  limits  of  Texas,  as  in  your  judgment 
may  be  necessary.  You  are  also  directed  to  open  im 
mediate  correspondence  with  the  authorities  of  Texas, 
and  with  any  diplomatic  agent  of  the  United  States, 
(if  one  should  be  residing  therein,)  with  a  view  to  in 
formation  and  advice  in  respect  to  the  common  Indian 
enemy,  as  well  as  to  any  foreign  power.  This  commu 
nication  and  consultation  with  the  Texan  authorities, 
&c.,  are  directed  with  a  view  to  enable  you  to  avail 
yourself  of  the  superior  local  knowledge  they  may  pos 
sess,  but  not  for  the  purpose  of  placing  you,  or  any  por 
tion  of  the  forces  of  the  United  States,  under  the  orders 
of  any  functionary  not  in  the  regular  line  of  command 
above  you. 

"  Should  the  territories  of  Texas  be  invaded  by  a  for 
eign  power,  and  you  shall  receive  certain  intelligence 
through  her  functionaries  of  that  fact,  after  her  con 


TAYLOR    TO    REPEL    INVASION.  63 

vention  shall  have  acceded  to  the  terms  of  annexation 
contained  in  the  resolutions  of  the  Congress  of  the 
United  States,  you  will  at  once  employ,  in  the  most 
effectual  manner  your  judgment  may  dictate,  the  forces 
under  your  command,  for  the  defence  of  these  territo 
ries  and  to  expel  the  invaders. 

"  It  is  supposed  here  that,  for  the  mere  purpose  of 
repelling  a  common  Indian  enemy,  as  above  provided 
for,  it  may  not  be  necessary  that  you  should  march 
across  the  Sabine  or  upper  Red  river  (at  least  in  the 
first  instance)  with  more  than  the  particular  troops 
which  you  were  desired  in  the  instructions  before  re 
ferred  to,  of  the  21st  March,  to  hold  in  immediate 
readiness  for  the  field,  but  it  is  not  intended  to  restrict 
you  positively  to  that  particular  amount  of  force.  On 
the  contrary,  according  to  the  emergency,  you  may 
add  any  other  corps,  or  any  number  of  companies 
within  your  department  deemed  necessary,  beginning 
with  those  nearest  at  hand ;  and  in  the  contingency  of  a 
foreign  invasion  of  Texas,  as  above  specified,  other  regi 
ments  from  a  distance  may  be  ordered  to  report  to  you." 

This  order  was  succeeded  by  another,  also  confiden 
tial,  from  the  Hon.  George  Bancroft,  Acting  Secretary 
of  War,  and  dated  June  15th,  1845.  After  advising 
General  Taylor,  that  on  the  4th  of  July,  or  very  soon 
thereafter,  the  convention  of  the  people  of  Texas  would 
probably  accept  the  proposition  of  annexation,  and  that 
such  acceptance  would  constitute  Texas  an  integral 
portion  of  the  Union,  he  ordered  him  forthwith  to  make 
a  forward  movement  with  the  troops  under  his  com 
mand,  and  advance  to  the  mouth  of  the  Sabine,  or  such 
other  port  on  the  Gulf  of  Mexico,  or  its  navigable  wa 
ters,  as  in  his  opinion  might  be  most  convenient  for  an 
embarkation  at  the  proper  time,  for  the  western  portion 


64  TEXAS    ASSENTS    TO    ANNEXATION. 

of  Texas.  The  point  of  his  ultimate  destination,  he 
was  informed  in  this  order,  was  the  western  frontier  of 
Texas,  and  he  was  instructed  to  select  and  occupy,  on 
or  near  the  Rio  Grande,  such  a  site  as  would  consist 
with  the  health  of  the  troops,  and  be  the  best  point  to 
repel  invasion,  and  to  protect  what,  in  case  of  annexa 
tion,  would  be  our  western  border.  He  was  further 
instructed  to  limit  himself  to  the  defence  of  the  territory 
of  Texas,  unless  Mexico  should  declare  war  against  the 
United  States,  and  not  to  effect  a  landing  on  the  fron 
tier,  until  he  had  ascertained  the  acceptance  of  the 
proffered  terms  of  annexation  by  Texas,  from  our  min 
ister  to  that  government. 

Not  long  after,  the  anticipated  information  of  the 
acceptance  of  the  conditions  offered  to  Texas  by  the 
United  States  wras  received  by  General  Taylor,  and 
on  the  following  day  he  left  New  Orleans,  with  a  por 
tion  of  his  troops,  and  on  the  25th  of  July  arrived  at 
St.  Joseph's  Island.  In  the  early  part  of  August,  he 
took  up  his  position  at  Corpus  Christi,  on  the  west  side 
of  the  Neuces,  and  near  its  mouth,  where  he  remained 
until  the  llth  day  of  March,  1846.  Whilst  in  this 
position,  he  sent  forward  to  the  Rio  Grande  a  party  of 
observation,  with  the  view  of  selecting  some  favorable 
position  as  a  depot  of  military  stores,  and  a  proper  po 
sition  for  the  encampment  of  the  army.  Some  time  in 
February,  1846,  this  party  returned,  and  reported  in 
favor  of  Point  Isabel,  a  few  miles  from  the  mouth  of 
the  Rio  Grande,  as  a  depot  of  provisions  and  military 
stores,  and  in  favor  of  the  position  where  Fort  Brown 
was  subsequently  built,  as  a  suitable  position  to  be  occu 
pied  by  the  army. 

It  may  be  necessary  here  to  give  such  portions  of 
the  correspondence  between  the  War  Department  and 


TAYLOR'S  INSTRUCTIONS.  65 

General  Taylor,  while  the  latter  was  at  Corpus  Christi, 
as  will  explain  the  immediate  and  ultimate  views  and 
intentions  of  the  government  towards  Mexico,  the  po 
sition  of  Taylor,  and  the  agency  he  had,  if  any,  in 
hastening  the  war.  For  this  purpose,  the  part  of  that 
correspondence  that  throws  the  most  light  upon  these 
subjects,  is  annexed.  It  will  be  observed  from  it,  and 
the  order  of  the  Secretary  of  War  already  given,  that 
General  Taylor  acted  under  positive  and  specific  in 
structions  in  all  his  movements,  when  such  instructions 
could,  in  the  nature  of  the  case,  be  given.  In  these 
orders,  and  the  dispatches  of  Taylor,  will  be  found  all 
the  information  required,  to  lead  to  a  correct  under 
standing  of  the  immediate  steps  on  the  part  of  the 
two  governments  which  led  to  the  collision  between 
their  respective  armies,  that  ended  in  the  existing  war. 
On  the  23rd  of  August,  1845,  Mr.  Secretary  Marcy 
addressed  to  General  Taylor  the  following  order : 

"  The  information  hitherto  received  as  to  the  inten 
tions  of  Mexico,  and  the  measures  she  may  adopt,  does 
not  enable  the  administration  here  to  give  you  more 
explicit  .instructions  in  regard  to  your  movements,  than 
those  which  have  been  already  forwarded  to  you. 
There  is  reason  to  believe  that  Mexico  is  making  ef 
forts  to  assemble  a  large  army  on  the  frontier  of  Texas, 
for  the  purpose  of  entering  its  territory  and  holding 
forcible  possession  of  it.  Of  their  movements  you  are 
doubtless  advised,  and  we  trust  have  taken,  or  early 
will  take,  prompt  and  efficient  steps  to  meet  and  repel 
any  such  hostile  incursion.  Should  Mexico  assemble 
a  large  body  of  troops  on  the  Rio  Grande,  and  cross  it 
with  a  considerable  force,  such  a  movement  must  be 
regarded  as  an  invasion  of  the  United  States,  and  the 
commencement  of  hostilities.  You  will,  of  course,  use 


66  TROOPS    ORDERED    INTO    TEXAS. 

all  the  authority  which  has  been  or  may  be  given  you, 
to  meet  such  a  state  of  things.  Texas  must  be  pro 
tected  from  hostile  invasion,  and  for  that  purpose  you 
will  of  course  employ,  to  the  utmost  extent,  all  the 
means  you  possess  or  can  command. 

"  An  order  has  been  this  day  issued  for  sending  one 
thousand  more  men  into  Texas,  to  join  those  under 
your  command.  When  the  existing  orders  are  carried 
into  effect,  you  will  have  with  you  a  force  of  four 
thousand  men  of  the  regular  army.  We  are  not  en 
abled  to  judge  what  auxiliary  force  can,  upon  an  emer 
gency,  be  brought  together  from  Texas  ;  and  as  a  pre 
cautionary  measure,  you  are  authorized  to  accept 
volunteers  from  the  States  of  Louisiana  and  Alabama, 
and  even  from  Mississippi,  Tennessee  and  Kentucky. 
Should  Mexico  declare  war,  or  commence  hostilities 
by  crossing  the  Rio  Grande  with  a  considerable  force, 
you  are  instructed  to  lose  no  time  in  giving  informa 
tion  to  the  authorities  of  each  or  any  of  the  above- 
mentioned  states,  as  to  the  number  of  volunteers  you 
may  want  from  them  respectively.  Should  you  re 
quire  troops  from  any  of  these  states,  it  would  be  im 
portant  to  have  them  with  the  least  possible  delay. 
It  is  not  doubted  that  at  least  two  regiments  from  New 
Orleans,  and  one  from  Mobile,  could  be  obtained  and 
expeditiously  brought  into  the  field.  You  will  cause  it 
to  be  known  in  these  places,  what  number  and  de 
scription  of  troops  you  desire  to  receive  from  them  in 
the  contemplated  emergency.  The  authorities  of  these 
states  will  be  apprised  that  you  are  authorized  to  re 
ceive  volunteers  from  them,  and  you  may  calculate 
that  they  will  promptly  join  you  wrhen  it  is  made  known 
that  their  services  are  required.  Arms,  ammunition, 
and  camp  equipage  for  the  auxiliary  troops  that  you 


A    NAVAL    FORCE    TO    CO-OPERATE.  67 

may  require,  will  be  sent  forward,  subject  to  your  or 
ders.  You  will  so  dispose  of  them  as  to  be  most  avail 
able  in  case  they  should  be  needed,  and  at  the  same 
time  with  a  due  regard  to  their  safety  and  preserva 
tion.  Orders  have  been  issued  to  the  naval  force  on 
the  Gulf  of  Mexico  to  co-operate  with  you.  You  will, 
as  far  as  practicable,  hold  communication  with  the 
commanders  of  our  national  vessels  in  your  vicinity, 
and  avail  yourself  of  any  assistance  that  can  be  de 
rived  from  their  co-operation.  The  Lexington  is  or 
dered  into  service  as  a  transport  ship,  and  will  sail  in 
a  few  days  from  New  York,  with  a  detachment  of 
United  States  troops  for  Corpus  Christi.  She  will  be 
employed  as  the  exigency  of  the  public  service  may 
require.  In  order  to  keep  up  a  proper  communication 
between  the  army  in  Texas  and  the  United  States,  the 
On-ka-hy-e,  the  Harney,  and  the  Dolphin  will  be  put 
into  service  as  soon  as  they  can  be  made  ready,  as  dis 
patch  vessels,  to  convey  intelligence,  supplies,  &c.  You 
will  avail  yourself  of  these  vessels,  and  all  other  proper 
means,  to  keep  the  government  here  advised  of  your 
operations,  and  the  state  of  things  in  Texas  and  Mexico." 
Two  days  after,  on  the  25th  of  August,  the  Secre 
tary  of  War  addressed  a  circular  letter  to  the  Govern 
ors  of  Alabama,  Mississippi,  and  Louisiana,  and  on  the 
28th,  a  similar  letter  to  the  Governors  of  Kentucky 
and  Tennessee,  advising  them  that  General  Taylor  had 
been  appointed  to  the  command  of  the  army  of  occu 
pation  in  Texas,  and  that  he  was  authorized  to  draw 
any  auxiliary  force  he  might  need  from  that  state. 
He  advises  them  that  General  Taylor  has  been  author 
ized  to  call  on  them  for  any  additional  volunteers  he 
might  consider  necessary  to  repel  the  invasion  of  Texas 
by  Mexico,  should  it  be  attempted.  He  also  observes, 


68  VOLUNTEERS    FROM    OTHER    STATES. 

"  that  the  emergency  rendering  such  assistance  from 
the  militia  of  your  state  necessary,  does  not  appear  to 
have  been  foreseen  by  Congress,  and  consequently,  no 
appropriation  was  made  for  paying  them ;  but  it  is  not 
to  be  doubted  that  such  a  provision  will  be  promptly 
made  when  Congress  shall  again  assemble.  In  order 
to  be  paid,  the  state  troops  must  be  mustered  into  ser 
vice.  In  organizing  companies  and  regiments  for  that 
purpose,  the  number  of  officers  must  be  proportioned 
to  that  of  the  privates.  Inclosed  I  send  you  from  the 
Adjutant-General,  a  statement  of  the  number  and  rank 
of  officers  for  each  company  of  men,  as  well  as'  the 
regimental  and  staff  officers,  should  a  regiment  of  vol 
unteers  be  called  for.  From  the  known  patriotism  and 
military  ardor  of  the  militia  of  your  state,  it  is  pre 
sumed  that  volunteers,  to  the  number  that  may  be  re 
quired,  will  readily  tender  their  services  to  their  coun 
try  in  the  contemplated  emergency.  Should  aid  from 
your  state  be  required  by  the  commanding  general  in 
Texas,  it  will  be  of  the  utmost  importance  that  the 
troops  should  be  sent  into  that  state  without  delay. 
This  consideration  will  render  it  proper  that  they 
should  come  from  such  parts  of  the  state  as  can  most 
promptly  furnish  them." 

On  the  30th  of  August  Mr.  Marcy  wrote  to  General 
Taylor,  to  urge  upon  him  the  importance  of  availing 
nimself  of  every  opportunity  of  communicating  with 
the  War  Department,  as  it  was  desirable  to  have  early 
and  correct  information  from  him,  so  as  to  enable  the 
government  to  form  a  true  judgment  of  the  designs 
and  movements  of  Mexico,  founded  upon  ascertained 
facts.  He  then  continues  :  "  It  is  presumed  that,  in 
pursuance  of  previous  instructions  from  this  depart 
ment,  you  have  taken  special  pains  to  become  ac- 


WHAT    ACTS    CONSIDERED    AGGRESSIVE.  69 

quainted  with  the  proceedings  of  Mexico,  particularly 
in  regard  to  the  number  and  kind  of  Mexican  troops 
at  Matamoras,  Monterey,  and  other  places,  as  well  as 
those  which  are  on  the  march  towards  them,  and  may 
be  brought  to  act  against  your  forces,  or  pushed  across 
the  Rio  Grande,  either  in  the  vicinity  of  Matamoras 
or  at  distant  points  on  that  river.  You  will  not,  I  trust, 
underrate  the  importance  of  such  information,  or  fail 
to  use  the  proper  and  necessary  means  for  acquiring 
it.  You  are  directed,  should  you  deem  it  expedient,  to 
employ  competent  and  trustworthy  persons  to  obtain 
such  intelligence. 

"  The  instructions  heretofore  issued,  enjoin  upon  you 
to  defend  Texas  from  invasion  and  Indian  hostilities ; 
and  should  Mexico  invade  it,  you  will  employ  all  your 
forces  to  repulse  the  invaders,  and  drive  all  Mexican 
troops  beyond  the  Rio  Grande.  Should  you  judge  the 
forces  under  your  command  inadequate,  you  will  not 
fail  to  draw  sufficient  auxiliary  aid  from  Texas,  and, 
if  there  be  need,  from  the  states,  pursuant  to  your  pre 
vious  instructions.  It  is  not  to  be  doubted,  that  on 
your  notification,  volunteer  troops,  to  the  number  you 
may  require,  will  rally  with  alacrity  to  your  standard. 
You  have  been  advised  that  the  assembling  a  large 
Mexican  army  on  the  borders  of  Texas,  and  crossing 
the  Rio  Grande  with  a  considerable  force,  will  be  re 
garded  by  the  Executive  here  as  an  invasion  of  the 
United  States,  and  the  commencement  of  hostilities. 
An  attempt  to  cross  that  river  with  such  a  force,  will 
also  be  considered  in  the  same  light.  There  may  be 
other  acts  on  the  part  of  Mexico  which  would  put  an 
end  to  the  relations  of  peace  between  that  republic  and 
the  United  States.  Should  depredations  be  committed 
on  our  commerce  by  her  public  armed  vessels,  or  pri- 


70  HOW    TO    ACT    IN    CASE    OF    WAR. 

vateers  acting  under  authority,  this  will  constitute  a 
state  of  war. 

"  Orders  have  been  issued  to  the  vessels  of  the 
United  States  in  the  Gulf,  to  furnish  you  with  informa 
tion  of  any  hostile  proceedings  of  Mexico,  and  the 
state  of  things  in  that  republic.  You  will  embrace 
every  occasion  that  may  present,  to  forward  to  the 
commanders  of  these  vessels  such  intelligence  as  you 
may  possess  concerning  the  movements  of  the  military 
forces  and  the  state  of  things  in  Mexico  and  Texas, 
and  to  suggest  to  them  such  assistance  and  co-opera 
tion  as  you  may  desire  to  receive. 

"  In  case  of  war,  either  declared  or  made  manifest 
by  hostile  acts,  your  main  object  will  be  the  protection 
of  Texas  ;  but  the  pursuit  of  this  object  will  not  neces 
sarily  confine  your  action  within  the  territory  of  Texas. 
Mexico  having  thus  commenced  hostilities,  you  may, 
in  your  discretion,  should  you  have  sufficient  force,  and 
be  in  a  condition  to  do  so,  cross  the  Rio  Grande,  dis 
perse  or  capture  the  forces  assembling  to  invade  Texas, 
defeat  the  junction  of  troops  uniting  for  that  purpose, 
drive  them  from  their  positions  on  either  side  of  that 
river,  and,  if  deemed  practicable  and  expedient,  take 
and  hold  possession  of  Matamoras  and  other  places  in 
the  country.  I  scarcely  need  to  say  that  enterprises 
of  this  kind  are  only  to  be  ventured  on  under  circum 
stances  presenting  a  fair  prospect  of  success." 

Again,  on  the  16th  of  October,  1845,  the  Secretary 
of  War  informed  General  Taylor  that  no  apprehension 
was  felt  at  Washington,  that  any  serious  attempts 
would  be  made  by  Mexico  to  invade  Texas,  although 
she  still  continued  to  threaten  it,  and  that  in  carrying 
out  the  instructions  of  government  he  would  be  left 
very  much  to  his  own  judgment,  as  his  superior  knowl- 


WHAT    POSITION    TO    BE    OCCUPIED.  71 

edge  of  localities,  and  his  advantages  for  obtaining 
earlier  notice  of  the  views  of  Mexico,  and  the  move 
ments  of  her  troops,  would  enable  him  to  judge  much 
more  correctly  what  action  on  his  part  might  be  ne 
cessary.  He  was  advised  that  he  would,  in  a  great 
measure,  be  left  to  act,  during  the  coming  winter,  as 
circumstances  might  seem  in  his  judgment  to  require, 
and  instructed  to  approach  as  near  the  western  boun 
dary  of  Texas,  ("  the  Rio  Grande,")  as  a  due  regard 
for  his  safety  and  the  comfort  of  his  army  would  permit. 
Having  given  such  suggestions  as  he  considered  ad 
visable  as  to  the  movements  of  the  army,  the  secretary 
proceeds  :  "  Ought  your  present  position  to  be  changed  ? 
the  forces  which  are,  or  soon  will  be,  assembled  under 
your  command,  be  kept  together  or  divided  ?  and,  if 
divided,  what  positions  are  to  be  taken,  and  how  are 
they  to  be  divided  ?  These  are  questions  which  must 
be  in  a  measure  left  to  your  judgment,  or,  at  least,  the 
decision  upon  them  here,  if  there  be  time,  will  be  influ 
enced  in  no  inconsiderable  degree  by  the  information 
and  views  which  you  may  furnish  the  department. 
You  need  not,  therefore,  wait  for  directions  from  Wash 
ington,  to  carry  out  what  you  may  deem  proper  to  be 
done.  Upon  all  the  points  above  enumerated,  and 
others  not  suggested,  your  reports  and  views  in  full  are 
desired,  not  only  with  reference  to  the  continuance  of 
the  present  aspect  of  affairs  between  the  United  States 
and  Mexico,  but  in  the  contingency  of  your  selecting, 
or  being  directed  to  take,  a  position  on  the  banks  of  the 
Rio  Grande  near  its  mouth,  or  places  above,  or  even  in 
the  event  of  open  hostilities.  It  is  expected  that  the 
officers  of  the  Engineer  and  Topographical  Corps,  who 
have  been  sent  into  Texas,  will  examine  as  far  as 
practicable,  under  your  direction,  the  country,  with  a 


72      TAYLOR  ORDERED  TO  THE  RIO  GRANDE. 

view  to  selecting  eligible  positions  for  permanent  or 
temporary  occupation,  for  depots  of  supplies,  arms,  and 
munitions  of  war.  It  is  extremely  desirable  that  the 
sea-coast,  or  at  least  that  part  of  it  which  will  be  likely 
to  be  visited  by  our  vessels  in  aid  of  any  contemplated 
military  operations,  should  be  better  known  here  than 
it  now  is  ;  as  well  as  the  character  of  the  several  rivers 
which  may  present  obstacles  to  the  movements  of  our 
forces,  or  furnish  facilities  for  transporting  supplies. 
You  are  requested  to  avail  yourself  of  all  proper  occa 
sions,  and  employ  the  means  you  possess  to  collect  in 
formation  in  regard  to  matters,  and  forward  it  to  this 
department."  » 

The  next  communication  from  the  Secretary  of  War 
to  General  Taylor  is  an  explicit  and  peremptory  order 
to  march  to  the  Rio  Grande,  and  take  such  a  position 
there  as  he  might  deem  advisable,  the  season,  the  route 
by  which  his  encampment  could  be  approached,  and 
the  security  of  the  army  being  considered.  Mr.  Marcy 
writes  :  "  I  am  directed  by  the  President  to  instruct 
you  to  advance  and  occupy,  with  the  troops  under 
your  command,  positions  on  or  near  the  east  bank  of 
the  Rio  del  Norte,  as  soon  as  it  can  be  conveniently 
done  with  reference  to  the  season  and  the  routes  by 
which  your  movements  must  be  made.  From  the 
views  heretofore  presented  to  this  department,  it  is  pre 
sumed  Point  Isabel  will  be  considered  by  you  an  eligi 
ble  position.  This  point,  or  some  one  near  it,  and 
points  opposite  Matamoras  and  Mier,  and  in  the  Vicin 
ity  of  Laredo,  are  suggested  for  your  consideration  ; 
but  you  are  left  to  your  better  knowledge  to  determine 
the  post  or  posts  which  you  are  to  occupy,  as  well  as 
the  question  of  dividing  your  forces  writh  a  view  to  oc 
cupying  two  or  more  positions. 


TO    ACT    ON    THE    DEFENSIVE.  73 

"  In  the  positions  you  may  take  in  carrying  out  these 
instructions,  and  other  movements  that  may  be  made, 
the  use  of  the  Rio  del  Norte  may  be  very  convenient, 
if  not  necessary.  Should  you  attempt  to  exercisp  the 
right  which  the  United  States  have,  in  common  with 
Mexico,  to  the  free  navigation  of  this  river,  it  is  proba 
ble  that  Mexico  would  interpose  resistance.  You  will 
not  attempt  to  enforce  this  right  without  further  in 
structions. 

"  You  are  requested  to  report  to  this  department, 
without  delay,  what  means  you  may  require,  if  any, 
beyond  those  you  now  possess,  to  enforce  and  main 
tain  our  common  right  to  navigate  this  river,  as  well  as 
your  views  of  the  importance  of  this  right  in  the  de 
fence  and  protection  of  the  state  of  Texas. 

"  It  is  not  designed,  in  our  present  relations  with 
Mexico,  that  you  should  treat  her  as  an  enemy ;  but, 
should  she  assume  that  character  by  a  declaration  of 
war,  or  an  open  act  of  hostility  towards  us,  you  will 
not  act  merely  on  the  defensive,  if  your  relative  means 
enable  you  to  do  otherwise. 

"  Since  instructions  were  given  you  to  draw  aid  from 
Texas,  in  case  you  should  deem  it  necessary,  the  rela 
tions  between  that  state  and  the  United  States  have 
undergone  some  modification.  Texas  is  now  fully  in 
corporated  into  our  union  of  states,  and  you  are  here 
by  authorized  by  the  President  to.  make  a  requisition 
upon  the  executive  of  that  state  for  such  of  its  militia 
force  as  may  be  needed  to  repel  invasion,  or  to  secure 
the  country  against  apprehended  invasion." 

•These  extracts  from  the  instructions  and  orders  of 
the  Secretary  of  War  to  General  Taylor,  in  regard  to 
his  movements  in  Texas,  and  his  operations  there,  will 
render  sufficiently  intelligible  the  objects  and  wishes  of 


74 


TAYLOR  S    DISPATCHES. 


the  American  government  in  regard  to  Mexico,  and 
what  was  expected  of  the  commanding  General.  The 
dispatches  of  General  Taylor  to  his  government  during 
the  same  period,  are  necessary,  however,  to  place  be 
fore  the  reader  the  whole  question  in  all  its  bearings, 
to  show  the  condition  and  number  of  the  army,  with 
which  the  first  great  achievements  of  this  war  were 
accomplished,  and  to  help  to  illustrate  the  character 
of  the  extraordinary  man  whose  name  has  been  so 
closely  identified  with  almost  every  incident  of  it. 
Besides  the  official  dispatches  of  Taylor  that  are  an 
nexed,  there  will  be  found  a  communication  to  him 
from  the  Prefect  of  Tamaulipas,  and  also  one  from 
General  Ampudia,  Commander-in-chief  of  the  Mexican 
army  on  the  Texan  frontier,  as  well  as  General  Tay 
lor's  reply  to  it : 

"  NEW  ORLEANS,  La.,  July  20, 1845. 

SIR  : — I  respectfully  acknowledge  your  communica 
tion  of  July  8th,  covering  the  instructions  of  the  Secre 
tary  of  War  of  the  same  date,  relative  to  the  Mexican 
settlements  on  this  side  of  the  Rio  Grande.  Those 
instructions  will  be  closely  obeyed ;  and  the  depart 
ment  may  rest  assured  that  I  will  take  no  step  to  inter 
rupt  the  friendly  relations  between  the  United  States 
and  Mexico.  I  am  gratified  at  receiving  these  instruc 
tions,  as  they  confirm  my  views,  previously  communi 
cated,  in  regard  to  the  proper  line  to  be  occupied  at 
present  by  our  troops. 

I  am,  sir,  very  respectfully, 

Your  obedient  servant, 

Z,  TAYLOR, 
Brevet  Brig.  Gen.  U.  S.  A.,  commanding. 

The  ADJUTANT  GENERAL  of  the  Army, 

Washington,  D.  C. 


AT  ST.  JOSEPH'S  ISLAND.  75 


HEADQUARTERS,  ARMY  or  OCCUPATION, 
Steamship  Alabama,  Aransas  Pass, 
'    Texas,  July  v 


3UPATIOX,  ) 

LS  Pass,      > 
28, 1845.  ) 


SIR  : — I  respectfully  report  my  arrival  at  this  place 
on  the  25th  instant,  with  eight  companies  of  the  Third 
infantry,  it  having  been  found  necessary  to  leave  two 
companies  of  that  regiment  to  be  brought  over  in  other 
transports. 

The  troops  are  temporarily  established  on  St. 
Joseph's  Island.  I  am  waiting  the  report  of  a  boat 
expedition  sent  to  Corpus  Christi  Bay,  before  I  deter 
mine  on  the  site  of  an  encampment.  I  hope  to  receive 
the  necessary  information  in  the  course  of  the  day, 
when  I  shall  immediately  commence  the  removal  of 
the  Third  infantry  to  the  point  selected.  The  position 
will  probably  be  "  Live  Oak  Point,"  in  Aransas  Bay, 
some  ten  miles  from  our  present  position.  I  am  veiy 
anxious  to  establish  myself  at  the  mouth  of  the  Nueces, 
but  the  extreme  shoalness  of  the  water  will,  I  fear,  pre 
sent  an  insuperable  obstacle,  unless  we  can  procure 
lighters  of  much  lighter  draught  than  those  we  have  at 
present. 

The  difficulties  of  effecting  a  debarkation  on  this 
coast,  and  of  establishing  depots  for  supplying  the 
army,  are  much  greater  than  I  anticipated,  and  will 
render  our  operations  at  once  embarrassing  and  expen 
sive.  Between  Pass  Cavello  and  Brazos  Santiago 
there  is  no  entrance  for  vessels  drawing  more  than 
seven  or  eight  feet ;  and  the  prevailing  winds  render 
the  operation  of  lightening  extremely  uncertain  and 
hazardous.  We  nave  been  favored  with  fine  weather, 
and,  should  it  continue,  the  other  transports,  which 
may  now  be  expected,  will  be  enabled  to  discharge 
without  difficulty. 


76  HEALTH    OF    THE    ARMY. 

We  had  a  very  favorable  run  from  New  Orleans  and 
I  am  happy  to  state  that  the  health  of  the  command 
was  greatly  improved  by  the  voyage.  The  eight  com 
panies  have  scarcely  any  sickness  at  this  time. 

The  day  before  leaving  New  Orleans,  I  received 
from  Major  Donelson,  a  communication  dated  at  Austin, 
on  the  7th  of  July,  informing  me  that  the  convention 
had  unanimously  accepted  the  proposition  of  annexa 
tion,  and  suggested  that  two  companies  should  be  posted 
at  Austin.  I  still  deem  it  best  to  concentrate  my  force 
until  our  relations  with  Mexico  shall  become  settled, 
and  until  the  country  can  be  examined,  and  the  best 
mode  of  supply  ascertained. 

I  hear  nothing  important  from  the  Mexican  frontier. 
Some  Indian  depredations  are  committed  from  time  to 
time  near  Corpus  Christi,  and  will  claim  my  first  atten 
tion  after  I  can  get  established. 

I  am,  sir,  very  respectfully, 

Your  obedient  servant, 

Z.  TAYLOR. 
Brevet  Brig.  Gen.  U.  S.  A.,  commanding. 

The  ADJUTANT  GENERAL  of  the  Army, 

Washington,  D.  C. 

"  HEADQUARTERS,  ARMY  OF  OCCUPATION,  ) 
Corpus  Christi,  Texas,  Aug.  15,  1845.    \ 

SIR  : — I  have  the  honor  to  report  that,  by  New 
Orleans  papers  of  the  7th  inst,  I  have  received  intelli 
gence  of  the  preparatory  steps  taken  by  Mexico  to 
wards  a  declaration  of  war  against  the  United  States. 
I  shall  spare  no  exertions  to  meet  suitably  this  proba 
ble  change  in  the  relations  between  the  .two  countries; 
and  the  additional  force  ordered  to  join  me,  as  an 
nounced  in  your  communication  of  July  30th,  will,  I 
trust,  enable  me  to  do  something  more  than  maintain 


AT    CORPUS    CHRISTI.  77 

a  merely  defensive  attitude  on  the  Nueces.  This  will 
depend  upon  the  demonstrations  made  by  Mexico  along 
the  Rio  Grande,  in  regard  to  which  the  Secretary  of 
War  has  solicited  a  report.  I  am  enabled  to  say,  upon 
information  which  is  regarded  as  authentic,  that 
General  Arista  was  to  leave  Monterey  on  the  4th  of 
this  month  for  Matamoras,  with  one  thousand  five  hun 
dred  men — five  hundred  being  cavalry.  I  learn,  from 
the  same  source,  that  there  are  five  hundred  regular 
troops  at  Matamoras.  In  regard  to  the  force  at  other 
points  on  the  Rio  Grande,  except  the  militia  of  the 
country,  I  have  no  information  ;  nor  do  I  hear  that  the 
reported  concentration  at  Matamoras  is  for  any  pur 
pose  of  invasion.  I  have  but  just  arrived  at  this  place, 
and  hope  in  a  few  days  to  be  able  to  obtain  more  full 
and  precise  intelligence  concerning  the  movements  of 
the  Mexicans.  I  shall  not  fail  to  communicate  promptly 
to  the  department  all  such  intelligence  upon  which  I 
think  reliance  can  be  placed. 

I  am,  sir,  very  respectfully, 

Your  obedient  servant, 

Z.  TAYLOR, 
Brevet  Brig.  Gen.  U.  S.  A.,  commanding. 

The  ADJUTANT  GENERAL  of  the  Army, 

Washington.  D.  C. 


"  HKADQ.UARTF.RS,  ARMY  or   OCCUPATION,  ) 
Corpus  Christi,  Texas,  Aug  30,  1845.     $ 

SIR  : — I  respectfully  report  the  arrival  at  this  post 
of  seven  companies  of  the  7th  infantry,  under  Major 
Brown,  and  two  companies  of  volunteer  artillery  under 
Major  Gaily.  Major  Seawell's  company,  I  am  in 
formed,  was  ordered  back  to  Baton  Rouge  by  General 
Gaines,  and  some  small  detachments  of  that  regiment 
were  also  left  at  several  posts.  I  have  retained  one 


78  CHARACTER  OF  HIS  TROOPS. 

company   as  a   guard   for  the   depot  at   St.  Joseph's 
Island. 

The  battalion  of  volunteer  artillery  has  a  fine  battery 
of  eight  pieces — two  twelves  and  six  sixes,  completely 
equipped  in  every  respect.  The  officers  are  zealous, 
and  the  men  seem  to  be  quite  well  instructed  in  their 
duties.  In  case  of  need,  I  look  for  some  valuable  ser 
vices  from  this  battalion. 

I  have  just  received  a  communication  from  President 
Jones,  under  date  of  the  23rd  inst.,  notifying  me  that 
he  had  taken  preparatory  steps  towards  organizing  a 
volunteer  force  of  one  thousand  men  to  assist  me  if 
necessary.  This  matter  will  form  the  subject  of  a 
special  communication  to  your  office  in  a  few  days. 

Apprehending  that  the  erroneous  impressions  current 
in  New  Orleans  in  regard  to  our  situation,  might  induce 
General  Gaines  to  order  the  muster  of  a  battalion  or 
brigade  of  infantry,  I  addressed  a  communication  to 
his  staff  officer  by  the  steamship  Alabama,  expressing 
my  thanks  for  the  reinforcement  of  the  volunteer  bat 
talion  of  artillery,  but  with  the  hope  that  no  more  vol 
unteers  would  be  sent  without  a  requisition  from  me. 
That  communication  will  reach  New  Orleans  to-night 
or  to-morrow,  in  time,  I  trust,  to  stop  the  employment 
of  any  more  volunteers. 

We  have  no  news  from  the  Rio  Grande.     Idle  sto 
ries  are  brought  in  from  that  quarter,  but  with  the 
means  of  accurate  information  which  we  now  possess, 
I  do  not  deem  it  necessary  to  repeat  them. 
I  am,  sir,  very  respectfully, 

Your  obedient  servant, 

Z.  TAYLOR, 
Brevet  Brig.  Gen.  U.  S.  A.,  commanding. 

The  ADJUTANT  GENERAL  of  the  Army, 

Washington,  D.  C. 


OCCUPATION    OF    POINT    ISABEL.  79 

HEADQUARTERS,  ARMY  OF  OCCUPATION,  ) 
Corpus  Christi,  Texas,  Oct.  4  1845.     $ 

SIR  : — I  beg  leave  to  suggest  some  considerations  in 
relation  to  the  present  position  of  our  force,  and  the 
dispositions  which  may  become  necessary  for  the  more 
effectual  prosecution  of  the  objects  for  which  it  has 
been  concentrated.  It  will  be  recollected  that  the  in 
structions  of  June  15th,  issued  by  Mr.  Bancroft,  then 
Acting  Secretary  of  War,  directed  me  to  "  select  and 
occupy,  on  or  near  the  Rio  Grande,  such  a  site  as  will 
consist  with  the  health  of  the  troops,  and  will  be  best 
adapted  to  repel  invasion,"  &c.  Brazos  Santiago  is 
the  nearest  entrance  to  the  mouth  of  the  Rio  Grande ; 
and  Point  Isabel,  within  that  entrance,  and  twenty-one 
miles  from  Matamoras,  \vould  have  fulfilled  more  com 
pletely  than  any  other  position  the  conditions  imposed 
by  the  Secretary.  But  we  had  no  artillery,  no  engi 
neer  force  or  appliances,  and  but  a  moderate  amount 
of  infantry ;  and  the  occupation  of  Point  Isabel,  under 
these  circumstances,  and  with  at  least  the  possibility 
of  resistance  from  the  Mexicans,  might  have  compro 
mised  the  safety  of  the  command.  I  therefore  deter 
mined  to  take  up  the  next  accessible  position  in  the 
rear,  which  is  the  mouth  of  the  Nueces  river.  All  the 
information  which  I  could  obtain  before  leaving  New 
Orleans,  seemed  to  point  to  Corpus  Christi  as  the  most 
suitable  point  for  concentration ;  and,  although  before 
the  President's  instructions  of  July  30th  reached  me, 
I  would  have  preferred  a  position  on  the  left  bank  of 
the  river,  yet  a  careful  examination  of  the  country  had 
already  convinced  me  that  none  could  be  found  com 
bining  so  many  advantages  as  this.  Every  day's  ex 
perience  has  confirmed  these  impressions.  Corpus 
Christi  is  healthy,  easily  supplied,  and  well  situated  to 


80  ADVANTAGES    OF    THAT    POSITION. 

hold  in  observation  the  course  of  the  Rio  Grande  from 
Matamoras  to  Laredo — being  about  one  hundred  and 
fifty  miles  from  several  points  on  the  river.  I  have 
reason  to  believe,  moreover,  that  a  salutary  moral  effect 
has  been  exercised  upon  the  Mexicans.  Their  traders 
are  continually  carrying  home  the  news  of  our  position 
and  increasing  numbers,  and  are  confessedly  struck  by 
the  spectacle  of  a  large  camp  of  well-appointed  and 
disciplined  troops,  accompanied  by  perfect  security  to 
their  persons  and  property,  instead  of  the  impressment 
and  pillage  to  which  they  are  subject  in  their  own 
country.  For  these  reasons,  our  position  thus  far  has, 
I  think,  been  the  best  possible  ;  but,  now  that  the  entire 
force  will  soon  be  concentrated,  it  may  well  be  a  ques 
tion  whether  the  views  of  government  will  be  best 
carried  out  by  our  remaining  at  this  point.  It  is  with 
great  deference  that  I  make  any  suggestions  on  topics 
which  may  become  matter  of  delicate  negotiation  ;  but 
if  our  government,  in  settling  the  question  of  boundary, 
makes  the  line  of  the  Rio  Grande  an  ultimatum,  I  can 
not  doubt  that  the  settlement  will  be  greatly  facilitated 
and  hastened  by  our  taking  possession  at  once  of  one 
or  two  suitable  points  on  or  quite  near  that  river.  Our 
strength  and  state  of  preparation  should  be  displayed 
in  a  manner  not  to  be  mistaken.  However  salutary 
may  be  the  effect  produced  upon  the  border  people  by 
our  presence  here,  we  are  too  far  from  the  frontier  to 
impress  the  government  of  Mexico  with  our  readiness 
to  vindicate,  by  force  of  arms,  if  necessary,  our  title  to 
the  country  as  far  as  the  Rio  Grande.  The  "  army  of 
occupation"  will,  in  a  few  days,  be  concentrated  at 
this  point,  in  condition  for  vigorous  and  efficient  ser 
vice.  Mexico  having  as  yet  made  no  positive  decla 
ration  of  war,  or  committed  any  overt  act  of  hostilities, 


ARMY    TO    BE    CGXCEXTRATED.  81 

I  do  not  feel  at  liberty,  under  my  instructions,  particu 
larly  those  of  July  8th.  to  make  a  forward  movement 
to  the  Rio  Grande  without  authority  from  the  War 
Department. 

In  case  a  forward  movement  should  be  ordered  or 
authorized,  I  would  recommend  the  occupation  of 
Point  Isabel  and  Laredo,  as  best  adapted  to  the  pur 
poses  of  observing  the  course  of  the  river,  and  cover 
ing  the  frontier  settlements  of  Texas.  Point  Isabel  is 
accessible  by  water,  and  can  be  safely  occupied  by 
two  brigades  of  infantry,  with  a  suitable  force  of  field 
artillery.  On  the  arrival  of  the  steamer  Harney,  I 
shall  order  a  careful  reconnoissance  of  Brazos  Santiago, 
as  a  necessary  preliminary  measure  to  the  occupation 
of  Point  Isabel.  To  occupy  Laredo  will  require  a 
land  march  from  this  point.  Supplies  may  probably  be 
transported  by  water  as  hisfh  as  San  Patricio.  and  pos 
sibly  to  the  junction  of  the  Rio  Frio  with  the  Xueces. 
I  propose  to  establish  a  'depot  on  the  Xueces  river, 
probably  at  the  crossing  of  the  San  Antonio  and  La 
redo  road,  from  which  to  operate  towards  the  Rio 
Grande.  You  will  perceive  from  my  "  special  orders" 
No.  24.  that  a  reconnoissance  has  been  ordered  in  that 
iirection.  A  brigade  of  infantry,  with  the  cavalry, 
and  a  battery  or  two  of  field  artillery,  will  be  sufficient 
for  the  occupation  of  Laredo.  That  town  is  on  the 
left  bank  of  the  Rio  Grande,  and  possesses  the  military 
advantage  of  holding  in  observation  the  main  route 
from  the  interior  of  Mexico  through  Monterey  to  Mat- 
amor  as. 

In  case  it  should  be  found  impracticable  to  establish 
a  suitable  depot  on  the  Xueces.  the  entire  force,  after 
strengthening  San  Antonio,  might  be  thrown  forward 


82  FURTHER    INSTRUCTIONS    REQUIRED. 

to  Point  Isabel,  where  it  could  be  readily  supplied,  and 
held  in  readiness  for  any  further  service. 

I  have  deemed  it  my  duty  to  make  the  above  sug 
gestions.  Should  they  be  favorably  considered,  and 
instructions  based  upon  them,  I  will  thank  you  to  send 
the  latter  in  duplicate  to  Lieutenant-Colonel  Hunt — 
one  copy  to  be  dispatched  direct,  without  delay ;  the 
other  to  be  sent  via  Galveston,  should  a  steamer  be 
running  to  that  port  from  New  Orleans. 
I  am,  sir,  very  respectfully, 

Your  obedient  servant, 

Z.  TAYLOR, 
Brevet  Brig.  Gen.  U.  S.  A.,  commanding. 

The  ADJUTANT  GENERAL  of  the  Army, 

Washington,  D.  C. 

P.  S.  It  is  proper  to  add,  that  should  any  auxiliary 
force  be  required,  I  propose  to  draw  it  wholly  from 
Texas.  I  do  not  conceive  that  it  will  become  neces 
sary,  under  any  circumstances,  to  call  for  volunteers 
from  the  United  States.  Z.  T. 


HEADQUARTERS,  ARMY  OF  OCCUPATION, 
Corpus  Christi,  Texas,  Nov.  7,  1845. 

SIR  : — I  respectfully  enclose  a  copy  of  a  letter  from 
Commodore  Connor,  commanding  the  home  squadron, 
which  I  received  by  the  "  Saratoga,"  sloop  of  war,  on 
the  5th  instant.  The  intelligence  communicated  by 
the  commodore  will,  doubtless,  reach  the  seat  of  gov 
ernment  long  before  the  receipt  of  this  letter. 

The  communication  from  the  Secretary  of  War, 
dated  October  16th,  was  received  and  acknowledged 
on  the  1st  and  2d  instant.  I  purposely  deferred  a  de 
tailed  reply  to  the  various  points  embraced  in  that 
communication,  until  I  could  receive  an  answer  to 
mine  of  October  4th,  which  covered  (at  least  in  part) 


FURTHER    INSTRUCTIONS    REQUIRED.  83 

the  same  ground.  The  intelligence  from  Mexico,  how 
ever,  tends  to  modify,  in  some  degree,  the  views  ex 
pressed  in  that  communication.  The  position  now 
occupied  by  the  troops  may,  perhaps,  be  the  best  while 
negotiations  are  pending,  or  at  any  rate  until  a  dispo 
sition  shall  be  manifested  by  Mexico  to  protract  them 
unreasonably.  Under  the  supposition  that  such  may 
be  the  view  of  the  department,  I  shall  make  no  move 
ment  from  this  point,  except  for  the  purpose  of  ex 
amining  the  country,  until  further  instructions  are 
received.  You  will  perceive,  from  my  orders,  that 
reconnoissances  are  almost  constantly  in  the  field,  the 
officers  of  engineers  and  topographical  engineers  ren 
dering  valuable  service  on  those  duties.  I  refer  you 
to  the  reports  made  by  those  officers  to  the  chiefs  of 
their  own  bureaux,  for  the  information  which  is  thus 
procured  in  relation  to  the  country.  An  examination 
of  the  harbor  of  Brazos  Santiago  will  be  ordered  in  a 
few  days — as  soon  as  a  proper  vessel  shall  become  dis 
posable  for  that  service. 

In  case  no  movement  is  made  this  season  towards 
the  Rio  Grande,  I  may  find  it  necessary  to  detach  a 
portion  of  the  army  a  short  distance  into  the  interior, 
where  wood  can  be  more  readily  procured  than  here. 
But  in  no  case  do  I  deem  it  necessary  to  hut  the  troops. 
Sheds,  with  platforms,  on  which  to  pitch  the  tents, 
were  extensively  used  in  camps  of  position  in  Florida, 
and  will,  I  cannot  doubt,  form  a  sufficient  protection 
here. 

On  the  hypothesis  of  an  early  adjustment  of  the 
boundary,  and  the  consequent  establishment  of  perma 
nent  frontier  posts,  I  cannot  urge  too  strongly  upon 
the  department  the  necessity  of  occupying  those  posts 
before  the  warm  weather  shall  set  in.  A  large  amount 


84  ORDERED    TO    THE    RIO    GRANDE. 

of  sickness  is,  I  fear,  to  be  apprehended,  with  every 
precaution  that  can  be  taken ;  but  the  information 
which  I  obtain  leads  me  to  believe  that  a  summer 
movement  would  be  attended  with  great  expense  of 
health  and  life.  As  in  Florida,  the  winter  is  the  best 
season  for  operations  in  Texas. 

I  am,  sir,  very  respectfully, 
Your  obedient  servant, 

Z.  TAYLOR, 
Brevet  Brig.  Gen.  U.  S.  A.,  commanding 

The  ADJUTANT  GENERAL  of  the  Army, 

Washington,  D.  C. 

HEADCIUARTERS,  ARMY  OF  OCCUPATION,  ) 
Corpus  Christi,  Texas,  Feb.  4,  1846.    J 

SIR  : — I  respectfully  acknowledge  the  communica 
tion  of  the  Secretary  of  War,  dated  January,  13th, 
and  containing  the  instructions  of  the  President  to 
move  forward  with  my  force  to  the  Rio  Grande.  I 
shall  lose  no  time  in  making  the  necessary  preparations 
for  carrying  out  those  instructions. 

The  occupation  of  Point  Isabel  or  Brazos  Santiago 
as  a  depot  will  be  indispensable.  That  point  and  a 
position  on  or  near  the  river  opposite  Matamoras  will 
I  think  answer  all  present  purposes.  At  any  rate,  I 
shall  not  separate  my  force  further  until  the  position 
of  affairs  shall  render  it  entirely  safe  to  do  so. 

I  propose  to  abandon  this  position  entirely,  as  soon 
after  our  march  as  the  stores,  hospital,  &c.,  can  be 
transferred  to  St.  Joseph's  Island.  It  will  be  necessary 
to  keep  up  an  establishment  at  that  point  for  the  pres 
ent,  although  our  supplies  will  come  to  Point  Isabel 
direct  from  New  Orleans. 

In  reply  to  the  call  of  the  Secretary  for  information 
as  to  what  means,  if  any,  will  be  required  "  to  enforce 


ARMED    VESSELS    REQUIRED.  85 

and  maintain  our  common  right  to  navigate'*  the  Rio 
Grande,  I  would  respectfully  state  that,  until  I  reach 
the  river  and  ascertain  the  condition  of  things  in  the 
frontier  states  of  Mexico,  temper  of  the  people,  &c.,  I 
cannot  give  any  satisfactory  answer  to  the  question. 
I  have  every  reason  to  believe  that  the  people  residing 
on  the  river  are  well-disposed  towards  our  government 
Our  advance  to  the  Rio  Grande  will  itself  produce  a 
powerful  effect,  and  it  may  be  that  the  common  navi 
gation  of  the  river  will  not  be  disputed.  It  is  very 
important  to  us,  and  will  be  indispensable  when  posts 
are  established  higher  up,  as  must  ultimately  be  the 
case. 

I  shall  not  call  for  any  militia  force  in  addition  to 
what  I  already  have,  unless  unforeseen  circumstances 
shall  render  its  employment  necessary. 

I  beg  leave  again  to  call  the  attention  of  the  depart 
ment  to  the  necessity  of  having  our  movement  and  po 
sition  at  Brazos  Santiago  covered  by  a  small  armed 
vessel.  I  deem  this  vitally  important,  and  hope  it  will 
meet  with  favorable  consideration. 

We  have  no  news  from  the  interior  of  Mexico  more 
recent  than  that  derived  from  the  New  Orleans  papers 
of  the  26th  of  January. 

I  am,  sir,  very  respectfully, 

Your  obedient  servant, 

Z.  TAYLOR, 
Brevet  Brig.  Gen.  U.  S.  A.,  commanding. 

The  ADJUTANT  GENERAL  of  the  Army, 

Washington,  D.  C. 


HEADQUARTERS,  ARMY  or  OCCUPATION,  ) 

Corpus  Christi,  Texas,  February,  26,  1846.  $ 

SIR  : — I  have  to  report  that  the  preparations  for  a  for 
ward  movement  of  this  command  are  now  nearlv  com- 


86  GENERAL    TAYLORS    POLICY. 

pleted.  The  examinations  spoken  of  in  my  report  of 
the  16th  instant  have  shown  the  practicability  of  both 
routes — by  the  main  land  and  by  Padre  Island.  The 
reconnoissance  of  Padre  Island  extended  to  its  southern 
extremity,  and  included  the  harbor  of  Brazos  Santiago 
and  Point  Isabel ;  that  of  the  main  route  reached  to  a 
point  near  the  Little  Colorado.  A  depot,  with  four 
days'  forage  and  subsistence  for  the  army,  will  be 
thrown  forward  some  forty  miles,  to  the  Santa  Ger 
trudes.  A  detachment  of  two  companies,  to  establish 
and  cover  this  depot,  will  march,  on  the  28th,  under 
Brevet  Major  Graham.  In  about  a  week  thereafter, 
say  the  7th  of  March,  the  cavalry  will  march,  to  be 
followed,  at  intervals  of  one  day,  by  the  brigades  of  in 
fantry.  By  the  25th  of  March,  at  latest,  I  hope  to  be 
in  position  on  the  Rio  Grande. 

I  have  taken  occasion  to  represent  to  some  citizens 
of  Matamoras,  who  were  here  with  a  large  number  of 
mules  for  sale,  and  who  are  represented  to  have  con 
siderable  influence  at  home,  that  the  United  States  gov 
ernment,  in  occupying  the  Rio  Grande,  has  no  motive 
of  hostility  towards  Mexico,  and  that  the  army  will,  in 
no  case,  go  beyond  the  river,  unless  hostilities  should 
be  commenced  by  the  Mexicans  themselves ;  that  the 
Mexicans,  living  on  this  side,  will  not  be  disturbed  in 
any  way  by  the  troops ;  that  they  will  be  protected  in 
all  their  usages ;  and  that  everything  which  the  army 
may  need  will  be  purchased  from  them  at  fair  prices. 
I  also  stated  that,  until  the  matter  should  be  finally  ad 
justed  between  the  two  governments,  the  harbor  of 
Brazos  Santiago  wrould  be  open  to  the  free  use  of  the 
Mexicans  as  heretofore.  The  same  views  were  im 
pressed  upon  the  Mexican  custom  house  officer  at 
Brazos  Santiago,  by  Captain  Hardee,  who  commanded 


ARMY    LEAVES    CORPUS    CHBISTI.  87 

the  escort  which  covered  the  reconnoissance  of  Padre 
Island. 

We  are  entirely  without  news  of  interest  from  the 
frontier,  or  the  interior  of  Mexico,  our  latest  date  from 
the  capital  being  the  21st  of  January,  and  the  same 
from  Vera  Cruz. 

I  am,  sir,  very  respectfully, 

Your  obedient  servant, 

Z.  TAYLOR, 
Brevet  Brig.  Gen.  U.  S.  A.,  commanding. 

The  ADJUTANT  GENERAL  of  the  Army, 

Washington,  D.  C. 


HEADQUARTERS,  ARMY  OF  OCCUPATION, 
Corpus  Christi,  Texas,  March,  8,  1846. 

SIR  : — I  respectfully  report  that  the  advance  of  the 
army,  composed  of  the  cavalry  and  Major  Ringgold's 
light  artillery,  the  whole  under  the  command  of  Colonel 
Twiggs,  took  up  the  line  of  march  this  morning  in  the 
direction  of  Matamoras,  its  strength  being  twenty-three 
officers  and  three  hundred  and  seventy-eight  men. 
The  advance  will  be  followed  in  succession  by  the 
brigades  of  infantry,  the  last  brigade  marching  on  the 
llth  inst.  The  roads  are  in  good  order,  the  weather 
fine,  and  the  troops  in  excellent  condition  for  service. 

Major  Munroe  will  embark  for  Brazos  Santiago  in 
season  to  reach  that  harbor  about  the  time  the  army 
will  be  in  the  vicinity  of  Point  Isabel.  He  takes  with 
him  a  siege  train  and  a  field  battery.  Captain  Sanders, 
of  the  engineers,  the  officers  of  ordnance,  and  the  pay 
department,  accompany  Major  Munroe. 

The  movement  by  water,  to  Brazos  Santiago,  will 
be  covered  by  the  revenue  cutter  "  Woodbury,"  Captain 
Foster,  whose  commander  has  kindly  placed  her  at  my 
disposal  for  this  service. 


88  CONCILIATORY    ORDERS. 

All  proper  arrangements  have  been  made  by  the  staff 
departments  for  supplying  the  army  on  the  route,  as 
well  as  establishing  a  depot  for  its  further  wants  at 
Point  Isabel. 

I  have  deemed  it  proper  to  cause  my  "  orders"  No. 
30,  to  be  translated  into  Spanish,  and  circulated  on  the 
Rio  Grande.  Sixty  copies  have  already  been  sent  in 
advance  of  the  army  to  Matamoras,  Camargo,  and 
Mier.  This  form  of  giving  publicity  to  the  spirit  which 
actuates  our  movements  in  occupying  the  country,  I 
thought  preferable  to  a  proclamation.  I  trust  the  order 
itself  will  meet  the  approval  of  the  department.  A  few 
copies  of  the  translation  are  herewith  enclosed. 

I  shall  again  communicate  with  general  headquarters 
before  I  march,  and  I  expect  to  do  so  at  least  once  on 
the  route. 

My  headquarters  will  march  with  the  rear  brigade, 
but  will  soon  pass  to  the  advance  of  the  army. 
I  am,  sir,  very  respectfully, 

Your  obedient  servant, 

Z.  TAYLOR, 
Brevet  Brig.  Gen.  U.  S.  A.,  commanding. 

The  ADJUTANT  GENERAL  of  the  Army. 

Washington,  D.  C. 


[TRANSLATION — ORDER  NO.  30.] 

HEADQUARTERS,  ARMY  OF  OCCUPATION,  ) 
Corpus  Christi,  March,  8, 1846.         J 

The  army  of  occupation  of  Texas  being  now  about 
to  take  a  position  upon  the  left  bank  of  the  Rio  Grande, 
under  the  orders  of  the  Executive  of  the  United  States, 
the  general-in-chief  desires  to  express  the  hope  that  the 
movement  will  be  advantageous  to  all  concerned ;  and 
with  the  object  of  attaining  this  laudable  end,  he  has 


GOOD  CONDITION  OF  THE  ARMY.          89 

ordered  all  under  his  command  to  observe,  with  the 
most  scrupulous  respect,  the  rights  of  all  the  inhabitants 
who  may  be  found  in  peaceful  prosecution  of  their  re 
spective  occupations,  as  well  on  the  left  as  on  the  right 
side  of  the  Rio  Grande.  Under  no  pretext,  nor  in  any 
way,  \vill  any  interference  be  allowed  with  the  civil 
rights  or  religious  privileges  of  the  inhabitants  ;  but  the 
utmost  respect  for  them  will  be  maintained. 

Whatsoever  may  be  needed  for  the  use  of  the  army 
will  be  bought  by  the  proper  purveyor,  and  paid  for  at 
the  highest  prices.  The  general-in-chief  has  the  satis 
faction  to  say  that  he  confides  in  the  patriotism  and 
discipline  of  the  army  under  his  command,  and  that  he 
feels  sure  that  his  orders  will  be  obeyed  with  the  utmost 
exactness. 

Z.  TAYLOR, 
Brevet  Brig.  Gen.  U.  S.  A,  commanding. 


HEADQUARTERS,  ARMY  or  OCCUPATION,      } 

Camp  at  "  El  Sauce."  119  miles  from    > 

Corpus  Christi,  March  18,  1846.         ) 

SIR  : — I  avail  myself  of  a  chance  opportunity  to  Cor 
pus  Christi  to  report  that  I  have  advanced  to  this  point 
with  the  cavalry  and  1st  brigade  of  infantry.  The 
2d  brigade  encamps  to-night  about  seven  miles  in  my 
rear ;  the  3rd  brigade  about  nineteen.  I  shall  concen 
trate  all  my  force  on  reaching  the  Little  Colorado, 
thirteen  miles  in  my  front,  so  as  to  be  prepared  for  any 
contingency.  I  am  happy  to  say  that  all  the  corps  of 
the  army  are  in  fine  condition  and  spirits,  equal  to  any 
service  that  may  be  before  them. 

Within  the  last  two  days,  our  advance  has  met  with 
small  armed  parties  of  Mexicans,  who  seem  disposed 


90  ARRIVES    AT    POINT    ISABEL. 

to  avoid  us.     They  were,  doubtless,  thrown  out  to  get 
information  of  our  advance. 

I  am,  sir,  very  respectfully, 

Your  obedient  servant, 

Z.  TAYLOR, 
Brevet  Brig.  Gen.  U.  S.  A.,  commanding. 

THE  ADJUTANT-GENERAL  of  the  Army. 

Washington,  D.C. 

HEADQUARTERS,  ARMY  OP  OCCUPATION,  ) 
Point  Isabel,  March  25,  1846.  $ 

SIR  : — I  respectfully  report  that  I  marched  on  the 
morning  of  the  23rd  inst.  with  the  entire  army  from 
the  camp  near  the  Colorado,  in  the  order  prescribed  in 
my  order  No  35,  herewith  inclosed.  After  a  march 
of  fifteen  miles,  we  reached,  on  the  morning  of  the 
24th,  a  point  on  the  route  from  Matamoras  to  Point 
Isabel,  eighteen  miles  from  the  former  and  ten  from  the 
latter  place.  I  here  left  the  infantry  brigades  under 
Brigadier-General  Worth,  with  instructions  to  proceed 
in  the  direction  of  Metamoras  until  he  came  to  a  suit 
able  position  for  encampment,  where  he  would  halt, 
holding  the  route  in  observation,  while  I  proceeded 
with  the  cavalry  to  this  point  to  communicate  with  our 
transports,  supposed  to  have  arrived  in  the  harbor, 
and  make  the  necessary  arrangements  for  the  establish 
ment  and  defence  of  a  depot. 

While  on  my  way  hither,  our  column  was  approached 
by  a  party  on  its  right  flank,  bearing  a  white  flag.  It 
proved  to  be  a  civil  deputation  from  Matamoras,  de 
siring  an  interview  with  me.  I  informed  them  that  I 
would  halt  at  the  first  suitable  place  on  the  road,  and 
afford  them  the  desired  interview.  It  was,  however, 
found  necessary,  from  the  want  of  water,  to  continue 
the  route  to  this  place.  The  deputation  halted  while 


FIRE    AT    POINT    ISABEL.  91 

yet  some  miles  from  Point  Isabel,  declining  to  come 
further,  and  sent  me  a  formal  protest  of  the  prefect  of 
the  northern  district  of  Tamaulipas  against  our  occu 
pation  of  the  country,  which  I  inclose  herewith.  At 
this  moment  it  was  discovered  that  the  buildings  at 
Point  Isabel  were  in  flames.  I  then  informed  the 
bearer  of  the  protest  that  I  would  answer  it  when  op 
posite  Matamoras,  and  dismissed  the  deputation.  I 
considered  the  conflagration  before  my  eyes  as  a  de 
cided  evidence  of  hostility,  and  was  not  willing  to  be 
trifled  with  any  longer,  particularly  as  I  had  reason  to 
believe  that  the  prefect,  in  making  this  protest,  was  but 
a  tool  of  the  military  authorities  at  Matamoras. 

The  advance  of  the  cavalry  fortunately  arrived  here 
in  season  to  arrest  the  fire,  which  consumed  but  three 
or  four  houses.  The  port  captain,  who  committed  the 
act  under  the  orders,  it  is  said,  of  General  Mejia,  had 
made  his  escape  before  its  arrival.  We  found  two  or 
three  inoffensive  Mexicans  here,  the  rest  having  left 
for  Matamoras. 

I  was  gratified  to  find  that  the  water  expedition  had 
exactly  answered  to  our  land  movement — the  steamers 
arriving  in  the  harbor  only  two  or  three  hours  before 
we  reached  Point  Isabel,  with  the  other  transports 
close  in  their  rear.  The  "  Porpoise"  and  "  Lawrence," 
brigs  of  war,  and  cutter  "  Woodbury,"  are  lying  out 
side.  I  have  thought  it  necessary  to  order  Captain 
Porter's  company  in  this  place  to  reinforce  Major  Mun- 
roe.  Our  great  depot  must  be  here,  and  it  is  very  im 
portant  to  secure  it  against  any  enterprise  of  the  enemy. 
The  engineer  officers  are  now  examining  the  ground 
with  a  view  to  tracing  lines  of  defence,  and  strength 
ening  the  position. 

As  soon  as  a  sufficient  amount  of  supplies  can  be 


92  A    MEXICAN    PROTEST. 

thrown  forward  toward  Matamoras,  I  shall  march  in 
the  direction  of  that  town,  and  occupy  a  position  as 
near  it  as  circumstances  will  permit. 

I  inclose  a  sketch  prepared  by  my  aide-de-camp, 
Lieutenant  Eaton,  exhibiting  the  route  of  march  since 
leaving  the  Colorado,  and  the  bearings  of  important 
points. 

I  am,  sir,  very  respectfully, 

Your  obedient  servant, 

Z.  TAYLOR, 
Brevet  Brig.  Gen.  U.  S.  A.,  commanding. 

The  ADJUTANT-GENERAL  of  the  Army, 

Washington,  D.  C. 

[TRANSLATION.] 

OFFICE  OF  THE  PREFECT  OF  THE  NORTHERN  DISTRICT  OF  THE    ) 
DEPARTMENT  OF  TAMAULIPAS,  Santa  Rita,  March  23,  1846.  $ 

GOD  AND  LIBERTY  ! 

SIR  : — Although  the  pending  question  respecting  the 
annexation  of  the  department  of  Texas  to  the  United 
States,  is  subject  to  the  decision  of  the  supreme  gov 
ernment  of  Mexico,  the  fact  of  the  advance  of  the 
army  under  your  excellency's  orders,  over  the  line  oc 
cupied  by  you  at  Corpus  Christi,  places  me  under  the 
necessity,  as  the  chief  political  authority  of  the  north 
ern  district  of  Tamaulipas,  to  address  you,  as  I  have 
now  the  honor  to  do,  through  the  commissioners,  who 
will  place  this  in  your  hands,  and  to  inform  you  that 
the  people,  under  this  prefecture,  being  justly  alarmed 
at  the  invasion  of  an  army,  which,  without  any  pre 
vious  declaration  of  war,  and  without  announcing  ex 
plicitly  the  object  proposed  by  it,  comes  to  occupy  a 
territory  which  never  belonged  to  the  insurgent  prov 
ince,  cannot  regard  with  indifference  a  proceeding  so 
contrary  to  the  conduct  observed  towards  each  other 


PROTEST    CONTINUED.  93 

by  civilized  nations,  and  the  clearest  principles  of  the 
law  of  nations ;  that,  directed  by  honor  and  patriotism, 
and  certain  that  nothing  has  been  said  officially  by  the 
cabinet  of  the  Union  to  the  Mexican  government,  res 
pecting  the  extension  of  the  limits  of  Texas  to  the 
left  bank  of  the  Rio  Bravo,  trusting  in  the  well-known 
justice  of  their  cause,  and  using  their  natural  right  of 
defence,  they  (the  citizens  of  this  district)  protest,  in 
tMe  most  solemn  manner,  that  neither  now  nor  at  any 
time  do  they,  or  will  they,  consent  to  separate  them 
selves  from  the  Mexican  republic,  and  to  unite  them 
selves  with  the  United  States ;  and  that  they  are 
resolved  to  carry  this  firm  determination  into  effect, 
resisting  so  far  as  their  strength  will  enable  them,  at  all 
times  and  places,  until  the  army  under  your  excel 
lency's  orders  shall  recede  and  occupy  its  former  posi 
tions  ;  because  so  long  as  it  remains  within  the  territory 
of  Tamaulipas,  the  inhabitants  must  consider  that  what 
soever  protestations  of  peace  may  be  made,  hostilities 
have  been  openly  commenced  by  your  excellency,  the 
lamentable  consequences  of  which  will  rest  before  the 
world  exclusively  on  the  heads  of  the  invaders. 

I  have  the  honor  to  say  this  to  your  excellency,  with 
the  object  indicated,  and  to  assure  you  of  my  consider 
ation  and  esteem. 

JENES  CARDENAS. 

JUAN  JOSE  PINEDA. 
To  General  Z.  TAYLOR,  &c. 

[EXTRACT.] 

CAMP  ON  THE  LEFT  BANK  OF  THE  RlO  GRANDE,  ) 
Opposite  Matamoras,  March  29th,  1846.       { 

SIR  : — I  have  the  honor  to  report  that  I  arrived  at 
this  camp  yesterday,  with  the  forces  under  my  com- 


94  HOSTILITY    OF    THE    MEXICANS. 

mand,  no  resistance  having  been  offered  to  my  advance 
to  the  banks  of  the  river,  nor  any  act  of  hostility  com 
mitted  by  the  Mexicans,  except  the  capture  of  two  of 
our  dragoons,  sent  forward  from  the  advanced  guard. 
1  deem  it  possible  that  these  two  men  may  have  de- 
ser  ted  to  the  enemy,  as  one  of  them,  at  least,  bears  a 
bad  character.  Our  approach  seems  to  have  created 
much  excitement  in  Matamoras,  and  a  great  deal  of 
activity  has  been  displayed  since  our  arrival,  in  the 
preparation  of  batteries.  The  left  bank  is  now  under 
reconnoissance  of  our  engineer  officers,  and  I  shall 
lose  no  time  in  strengthening  our  position  by  such  de 
fensive  works  as  may  be  necessary,  employing  for  that 
purpose  a  portion  of  the  heavy  guns  brought  round  by 
sea. 

The  attitude  of  the  Mexicans  is,  so  far,  decidedly 
hostile.  An  interview  has  been  held,  by  my  direction, 
with  the  military  authorities  in  Matamoras,  but  with 
no  satisfactory  result. 

Under  this  state  of  things,  I  must  again  and  urgently 
call  your  attention  to  the  necessity  of  speedily  sending 
recruits  to  this  army. 

The  militia  of  Texas  are  so  remote  from  the  border, 
*  *  *  *  that  we  cannot  depend  upon  their  aid. 

The  strength  gained  by  filling  up  the  regiments  here, 
even  to  the  present  feeble  establishment,  would  be  of 
very  great  importance. 

I  respectfully  inclose  a  field  report  of  the  force  now 
in  this  camp. 

I  am,  sir,  very  respectfully, 

Your  obedient  servant, 

Z.  TAYLOR, 
Brevet  Brig.  Gen.  U.  S.  A.,  commanding. 

The  ADJUTANT  GENERAL  of  the  Army, 

Washington.  D.  C. 


MEXICAN    PREPARATIONS    FOR    WAR.  95 

While  the  American  government  was  thus  prepar 
ing  to  meet  any  emergency  that  might  grow  out  of  the 
annexation  of  Texas,  as  will  have  been  gathered  from 
this  correspondence,  Mexico  was  not  idle.  She  had, 
through  her  minister  at  Washington,  General  Almonte, 
warmly  and  decidedly  protested  against  that  measure. 
His  protest  having  been  disregarded,  he  demanded  his 
passports,  and  left  the  United  States,  thus  putting  an 
end  to  all  diplomatic  intercourse  between  the  two  gov 
ernments.  As  soon  as  information  was  received  at  the 
capital  of  Mexico  that  Congress  had  admitted  Texas 
into  the  American  confederacy,  active  preparations 
were  taken  to  resist  what  the  Mexican  government 
affected  to  believe  a  virtual  dismemberment  of  the 
Mexican  nation,  and  an  encroachment  upon  the  integ 
rity  of  its  soil.  The  step  seems  to  have  been  generally 
regarded  as  a  sufficient  and  justifiable  cause  of  war. 
Loans  wrere  immediately  made,  and  an  army  ordered 
to  Texas,  and  the  regular  army  was  to  be  increased 
forthwith  to  sixty  thousand  men.  There  were  already 
two  thousand  troops  at  Matamoras,  and  these  were 
joined,  in  April,  1846,  by  twenty-two  hundred  more, 
amongst  whom  were  two  hundred  cavalry. 

On  the  llth  of  March,  1846,  General  Taylor,  with 
the  troops  that  had  not  already  preceded  him,  took  up 
his  line  of  march  from  Corpus  Christi,  and  on  the  28th 
of  the  same  month  arrived  at  the  Rio  Grande,  where 
Fort  Brown  now  stands,  a  distance  of  one  hundred 
and  nineteen  miles  from  the  post  he  had  left  on  the 
Nueces.  This  march,  at  any  season  of  the  year,  over 
a  low  marshy  country,  would  have  been  attended  with 
great  difficulty  and  embarrassment.  But  it  was  espe 
cially  so,  at  the  time  General  Taylor,  with  his  army, 
performed  it.  The  soldiers  wrere  therefore  nearly  worn 


96          SUMMONS  TO  GENERAL  TAYLOR. 

out  with  fatigue  upon  their  arriving  at  their  destina 
tion.  Upon  General  Taylor's  arrival  at  Point  Isabel, 
on  his  way  to  Matamoras,  he  had  defences  thrown  up 
there  under  the  superintendence  of  Captain  Sanders, 
with  a  view  to  making  it  a  depot  for  his  provisions  and 
military  stores.  While  here  he  was  met  by  a  deputa 
tion  of  fifty  Mexicans,  who  protested  against  his  occu 
pying  the  country;  but  he  coolly  informed  them  he 
should  not  have  time  to  consider  their  request  until  he 
reached  Matamoras. 

When  General  Taylor  arrived  at  the  Rio  del  Norte, 
the  Mexican  colors  were  flying  from  the  headquarters 
of  Gen.  Mejia,  the  commander  of  Matamoras,  troops 
were  moving  about  in  every  direction,  and  everything 
indicated  the  excitement  and  activity  of  a  military  en 
campment  on  the  eve  of  some  great  event.  On  the 
12th  of  April,  two  weeks  after  General  Taylor  had 
taken  up  his  position  opposite  the  city,  he  was  sum 
moned  by  General  Ampudia,  the  commander-in-chief 
of  the  Mexican  forces,  to  evacuate  his  posts,  and  the 
American  Consul,  and  all  other  American  citizens,  were 
ordered  to  leave  Matamoras  without  delay.  The  sum 
mons  of  General  Ampudia  was  in  terms  as  follows  : — 

"  To  explain  to  you  the  many  grounds  for  the  just 
grievances  felt  by  the  Mexican  nation,  caused  by  the 
United  States  government,  would  be  a  loss  of  time, 
and  an  insult  to  your  good  sense ;  I  therefore  pass  at 
once  to  such  explanations  as  I  consider  of  absolute 
necessity. 

"Your  government,  in  an  incredible  manner — you 
will  even  permit  me  to  say  an  extravagant  one,  if  the 
usage  or  general  rules  established  and  received  among 
all  civilized  nations  are  regarded — has  not  only  in 
sulted,  but  has  exasperated  the  Mexican  nation,  bear- 


GENERAL  TAYLOR'S  REPLY.  97 

ing  its  conquering  banner  to  the  left  bank  of  the  Rio 
Bravo  del  Norte ;  and  in  this  case,  by  explicit  and 
definite  orders  of  my  government,  which  neither  can, 
will,  nor  should  receive  new  outrages,  I  require  you  in 
all  form,  and  at  latest  in  the  peremptory  term  of 
twenty-four  hours,  to  break  up  your  camp  and  retire 
to  the  other  bank  of  the  Nueces  river,  while  our  gov 
ernments  are  regulating  the  pending  question  in  rela 
tion  to  Texas.  If  you  insist  in  remaining  upon  the  soil 
of  the  department  of  Tamaulipas,  it  will  clearly  result 
that  arms,  and  arms  alone,  must  decide  the  question ; 
and  in  that  case  I  advise  you  that  we  accept  the  war 
to  which,  with  so  much  injustice  on  your  part,  you 
provoke  us,  and  that,  on  our  part,  this  war  shall  be 
conducted  conformably  to  the  principles  established  by 
the  most  civilized  nations ;  that  is  to  say,  that  the  law 
of  nations  and  of  war  shall  be  the  guide  of  my  opera 
tions;  trusting  that  on  your  part  the  same  will  be 
observed." 

To  this  summons  to  General  Taylor  to  withdraw  his 
troops  beyond  the  Nueces,  he  replied  on  the  same  day. 
After  acknowledging  the  receipt  of  Ampudia's  order, 
and  recounting  its  purport,  he  says,  "  I  need  hardly 
advise  you  that,  charged  as  I  am,  in  only  a  military 
capacity,  with  the  performance  of  specific  duties,  I 
cannot  enter  into  a  discussion  of  the  international 
question  involved  in  the  advance  of  the  American 
army.  You  will,  however,  permit  me  to  say  that  the 
government  of  the  United  States  has  constantly 
sought  a  settlement,  by  negotiation,  of  the  question  of 
boundary ;  that  an  envoy  was  dispatched  to  Mexico 
for  that  purpose,  and  that  up  to  the  most  recent  dates 
said  envoy  had  not  been  received  by  the  actual  Mexi 
can  government,  if  indeed  he  has  not  received  Us 


*)3  HIS    REFUSAL    TO    COMPLY. 

passports  and  left  the  republic.  In  tl  ?  meantime,  1 
have  been  ordered  to  occupy  the  cou  .try  up  to  the 
left  bank  of  the  Rio  Grande,  until  the  boundary  shall 
be  definitely  settled.  In  carrying  out  these  instruc 
tions  I  have  carefully  abstained  from  all  acts  of  hos 
tility,  obeying,  in  this  regard,  not  only  the  letter  of  my 
nstructions,  but  the  plain  dictates  of  justice  and 
humanity. 

"  The  instructions  under  which  I  am  acting  will  not 
permit  me  to  retrograde  from  the  position  I  now  oc 
cupy.  In  view  of  the  relations  between  our  respective 
governments,  and  the  individual  suffering  which  may 
result,  I  regret  the  alternative  which  you  offer  ;  but,  at 
the  same  time,  wish  it  understood  that  I  shall  by  no 
means  avoid  such  alternative,  leaving  the  responsibility 
with  those  who  rashly  commence  hostilities.  In  con 
clusion,  you  will  permit  me  to  give  the  assurance,  that 
on  my  part,  the  laws  and  customs  of  war  among  civ 
ilized  nations  shall  be  carefully  observed/' 

General  Worth  was  appointed  to  open  communica 
tions  with  General  Mejia,  and  bear  to  him  this  answer 
to  General  Ampudia's  summons.  Mejia  at  first  de 
clined  to  receive  either  General  Worth  or  General 
Taylor's  communication.  He,  however,  finally  con 
sented  to  receive  the  latter,  and  sent  General  La  Vega 
to  meet  Worth.  The  interview  terminated  in  nothing 
decisive,  except  the  return  of  two  dragoons  who  had 
been  captured  by  the  Mexicans,  while  in  advance  of 
the  main  body  of  the  army. 

Matters  having  been  brought  nearly  to  a  crisis,  by 
the  refusal  of  General  Taylor  to  obey  the  summons  of 
Ampudia,  to  withdraw  his  forces  within  twenty-four 
hours  to  the  left  bank  of  the  Nueces,  the  Second  regi 
ment  of  the  American  troops  was  on  the  13th  removed 


THE  RIO  GRANDE  BLOCKADED.  99 

out  of  the  reach  of  the  shot  from  the  Mexican  batteries, 
while  the  Third,  and  Duncan's  and  Bragg's  companies 
of  flying  artillery  occupied  the  field  works.  The  river 
was  also  blockaded,  and  all  communications  and  sup 
plies  thereby  cut  off  with  this  city.  Four  days  after, 
Lieutenants  Porter  and  Dobbins,  with  a  party  of  ten 
men,  were  sent  in  pursuit  of  Colonel  Cross,  Deputy 
Quartermaster  General,  whom  it  was  subsequently 
ascertained,  was  murdered  on  the  10th  of  April  by  the 
Mexicans,  \vhile  he  was  taking  a  ride  near  the  Amer 
ican  camp.  While  in  the  performance  of  this  duty, 
the  party  fell  in,  on  the  18th,  with  one  hundred  and 
fifty  Mexicans,  whom  they  fired  upon  and  put  to  flight, 
and  took  possession  of  their  camp,  equipage  and  horses. 
But  they  were  attacked  by  night,  on  their  return  to 
camp,  by  a  large  party  of  Mexicans,  and  Lieutenant 
Porter,  a  brave  and  gallant  young  officer,  and  son  of 
the  late  Commodore  Porter,  was  killed. 

Upon  ascertaining  that  the  Rio  Grande  had  been 
blockaded,  Ampudia  addressed  a  strong  remonstrance 
to  General  Taylor  against  the  measure.  He  informed 
Taylor  that  from  various  sources  worthy  of  confidence, 
"  I  have  learned  that  some  vessels  bound  for  the  mouth 
of  the  river,  have  not  been  able  to  effect  an  entrance 
into  that  port,  in  consequence  of  your  orders  that  they 
should  be  conducted  to  Brazos  Santiago.  The  cargo 
of  one  of  them  is  composed  in  great  part,  and  of  the 
other  entirely  of  provisions,  which  the  contractors 
charged  with  providing  for  the  army  under  my  orders 
had  procured  to  fulfil  the  obligations  of  their  contracts. 
You  have  taken  possession  of  these  provisions  by  force, 
and  against  the  will  of  the  proprietors,  one  of  whom  is 
vice  consul  of  her  Catholic  Majesty,  and  the  other  of 
her  Britannic  Majesty  ;  and  whose  rights,  in  place  of 


100  AMPUDIA'S    PROTEST. 

being  rigorously  respected,  as  was  proffered,  and  as 
was  to  be  hoped  from  the  observance  of  the  principles 
which  govern  among  civilized  nations,  have,  on  the 
contrary,  been  violated  in  the  most  extraordinary 
manner  opposed  to  the  guarantee  and  -respect  due  to 
private  property. 

"  Nothing  can  have  authorized  you  in  such  a  course. 
The  commerce  of  nations  is  not  suspended  or  inter 
rupted  except  in  consequence  of  a  solemn  declaration 
of  blockade,  communicated  and  established  in  the  form 
prescribed  by  international  law.  Nevertheless,  you 
have  infringed  these  rules :  and,  by  an  act  which  can 
never  be  viewed  favorably  to  the  United  States  gov 
ernment,  have  hindered  the  entrance  to  a  Mexican 
port,  of  vessels  bound  to  it,  under  the  confidence  that 
commerce  would  not  be  interrupted.  My  duties  do 
not  allow  me  to  consent  to  this  new  species  of  hostility, 
and  they  constrain  me  to  require  of  you,  not  only  that 
the  vessels  taken  by  force  to  Brazos  Santiago  shall  be 
at  liberty  to  return  to  the  mouth  of  the  river,  but  the 
restoration  of  all  the  provisions  which,  besides  belong 
ing  to  private  contractors,  were  destined  for  the  troops 
on  this  frontier.  I  consider  it  useless  to  inculcate  the 
justice  of  this  demand,  and  the  results  which  may 
follow  an  unlooked-for  refusal. 

"  I  have  also  understood  that  two  Mexicans,  carried 
down  in  a  boat  by  the  current  of  the  river  near  one  of 
the  advanced  posts  of  your  camp,  were  detained,  after 
being  fired  upon,  and  that  they  are  still  kept  and  treated 
as  prisoners.  The  individuals  in  qtiestion  do  not  belong 
to  the  army,  and  this  circumstance  exempts  them  from 
the  laws  of  war.  I  therefore  hope  that  you  will  place 
them  absolutely  at  liberty,  as  I  cannot  be  persuaded 
that  you  pretend  to  extend  to  persons  not  military  the 


TAYLOR'S  PACIFIC  IXTEXTIOXS.  101 

consequences  of  an  invasion,  which  without  employing 
this  means  of  rigor  against  unarmed  citizens,  is  marked 
in  itself  with  the  seal  of  universal  reprobation." 

This  remonstrance  of  the  Mexican  commander, 
seems  to  have  made  but  little  impression  upon  General 
Taylor ;  and  his  reply  to  it  is  so  much  to  the  point,  so 
happily  conceived,  and  so  elegantly  expressed,  that  it 
deserves  careful  attention.  After  acknowledging  the 
receipt  of  Ampudia's  communication,  Taylor  expresses 
his  surprise  that  the  Mexican  general  should  complain, 
after  all  that  had  passed  since  the  arrival  of  the  Ameri 
can  army  on  the  Rio  Grande,  of  a  measure  which  is 
no  other  than  a  natural  result  of  the  state  of  war,  so 
much  insisted  on  by  the  Mexican  authorities  as  actu 
ally  existing.  He  then  proceeds  to  recall  to  his  mind 
circumstances  that  would  show,  in  his  opinion,  that 
the  state  of  war  insisted  upon  by  Mexico,  had  not  been 
sought  by  the  American  army,  but  had  been  forced 
upon  it,  and  that  the  exercise  of  the  rights  incident  to 
such  state,  could  not  be  a  subject  of  complaint. 

"  On  breaking  up  my  camp  at  Corpus  Christi,"  he 
continues,  "  and  moving  forward  with  the  army  under 
my  orders,  to  occupy  the  left  bank  of  the  Rio  Bravo, 
it  was  my  earnest  desire  to  execute  my  instructions  in 
a  pacific  manner ;  to  observe  the  utmost  regard  for  the 
personal  rights  of  all  citizens  residing  on  the  left  bank 
of  the  river,  and  to  take  care  that  the  religion  and  cus 
toms  of  the  people  should  suffer  no  violation.  With 
this  view,  and  to  quiet  the  minds  of  the  inhabitants,  I 
issued  orders  to  the  -army  enjoining  a  strict  observance 
of  the  rights  and  interests  of  all  Mexicans  residing  on 
the  river,  and  caused  said  orders  lu  ^e  translated  into 
Spanish,  and  circulated  in  the  several  towns  on  the* 
Bravo.  These  orders  announced  the  spirit  in  which 


102  REVIEWS    III3    ACTS. 

we  proposed  to  occupy  the  country,  and  I  am  proud  to 
say  that  up  to  this  moment  the  same  spirit  has  con 
trolled  the  operations  of  the  army.  On  reaching  the 
Arroyo  Colorado,  I  was  informed  by  a  Mexican  officer 
that  the  order  in  question  had  been  received  at  Mata 
moras  ;  but  was  told  at  the  same  time,  that  if  I  at 
tempted  to  cross  the  river,  it  would  be  regarded  as  a 
declaration  of  war.  Again,  on  my  march  to  Frontone, 
I  was  met  by  a  deputation  of  the  civil  authorities  of 
Matamoras  protesting  against  my  occupation  of  a  por 
tion  of  the  department  of  Tamaulipas,  and  declaring 
that  if  the  army  was  not  at  once  withdrawn,  war  would 
result.  While  this  communication  was  in  my  hands, 
it  was  discovered  that  the  village  of  Frontone  had 
been  set  on  fire  and  abandoned.  I  viewed  this  as  a 
direct  act  of  war,  and  informed  the  deputation  that 
their  communication  would  be  answered  by  me  when 
opposite  Matamoras,  which  was  done  in  respectful 
terms.  On  reaching  the  river  I  dispatched  an  officer, 
high  in  rank,  to  convey  to  the  commanding  general  in 
Matamoras,  the  expression  of  my  desire  for  amicable  re 
lations,  and  my  willingness  to  leave  open  to  the  use  of  the 
citizens  of  Matamoras  the  port  of  Brazos  Santiago,  until 
the  question  of  boundary  should  be  definitely  settled. 
This  officer  received  for  reply,  from  the  officer  selected 
to  confer  with  him,  that  my  advance  to  the  Rio  Bravo 
was  considered  as  a  veritable  act  of  war,  and  he  was 
absolutely  refused  an  interview  with  the  American 
consul,  in  itself  an  act  incompatible  with  a  state  of 
peace. 

"  Notwitnstanding  these  repeated  assurances  on  the 
part  of  the  Mexican  authorities,  and  notwithstanding 
the  most  obviously  hostile  preparations  on  the  right 
bank  of  the  river,  accompanied  by  a  rigid  non-inter- 


RESPONSIBILITY    ASSUMED.  103 

course,  I  carefully  abstained  from  any  act  of  hostility 
— determined  that  the  onus  of  producing  an  actual 
state  of  hostilities  should  not  rest  with  me.  Our  rela 
tions  remained  in  this  state  until  I  had  the  honor  to 
receive  your  note  of  the  12th  instant,  in  which  you 
denounce  war  as  the  alternative  of  my  remaining  in 
this  position.  As  I  could  not  under  my  instructions, 
recede  from  my  position,  I  accepted  the  alternative  you 
offered  me,  and  made  all  my  dispositions  to  meet  it 
suitably.  But,  still  willing  to  adopt  milder  measures 
before  proceeding  to  others,  I  contented  myself  in  the 
first  instance  with  ordering  a  blockade  of  the  mouth 
of  the  Rio  Bravo,  by  the  naval  forces  under  my  orders 
— a  proceeding  perfectly  consonant  with  the  state  of 
war  so  often  declared  to  exist,  and  which  you  acknowl 
edged  in  your  note  of  the  16th  instant,  relative  to  the 
late  Colonel  Cross.  If  this  measure  seem  oppressive,  I 
wish  it  borne  in  mind  that  it  has  been  forced  upon  me 
by  the  course  you  have  seen  fit  to  adopt.  I  have  re 
ported  this  blockade  to  my  government,  and  shall  not 
remove  it  until  I  receive  instructions  to  that  effect, 
unless  indeed  you  desire  an  armistice  pending  the 
final  settlement  of  the  question  between  the  govern 
ments,  or  until  war  shall  be  formally  declared  by  either, 
in  which  case  I  shall  cheerfully  open  the  river.  In 
regard  to  the  consequences  you  mention  as  resulting 
from  a  refusal  to  remove  the  blockade,  I  beg  you  to 
understand  that  I  am  prepared  for  them,  be  they  what 
they  may. 

"  In  regard  to  the  particular  vessels  referred  to  in 
your  communication,  I  have  the  honor  to  advise  you 
that,  in  pursuance  of  my  orders,  two  American  schoon 
ers,  bound  for  Matamoras,  were  warned  off  on  the  17th 
instant  when  near  the  mouth  of  the  river,  and  put  to 


104  AMPUDIA'S  COMPLAINTS. 

sea,  returning  probably  to  New  Orleans.  They  were 
not  seized,  or  their  cargoes  disturbed  in  any  way,  nor 
have  they  been  in  the  harbor  of  Brazos  Santiago  to  my 
knowledge.  A  Mexican  schooner,  understood  to  be  the 
"  Juniata,"  was  in  or  off  that  harbor  when  my  instruc 
tions  to  block  the  river  were  issued,  but  was  driven  to 
sea  in  a  gale,  since  which  time  I  have  had  no  report 
concerning  her.  Since  the  receipt  of  your  communi- 
.  cation,  I  have  learned  that  two  persons,  sent  to  the 
mouth  of  the  river  to  procure  information  respecting 
this  vessel,  proceeded  thence  to  Brazos  Santiago,  when 
they  were  taken  up  and  detained  by  the  officer  in  com 
mand,  until  my  orders  could  be  received.  I  shall  order 
their  immediate  release.  A  letter  from  one  of  them  to 
the  Spanish  vice  consul  is  respectfully  transmitted  here 
with.  . 

"In  relation  to  the  Mexicans  said  to  have  drifted 
down  the  river  in  a  boat,  and  to  be  prisoners  at  this 
time  in  my  camp,  I  have  the  pleasure  to  inform  you 
that  no  such  persons  have  been  taken  prisoners,  or  are 
now  detained  by  my  authority.  The  boat  in  question 
was  carried  down  empty  by  the  current  of  the  river, 
and  drifted  ashore  near  one  of  our  pickets,  and  was 
secured  by  the  guard.  Some  time  afterwards  an  at 
tempt  was  made  to  recover  the  boat  under  the  cover 
of  the  darkness ;  the  individuals  concerned  were  hailed 
by  the  guard,  and,  failing  to  answer,  were  fired  upon 
as  a  matter  of  course.  What  became  of  them  is  not 
known,  as  no  trace  of  them  could  be  discovered  on  the 
following  morning.  The  officer  of  the  Mexican  guard 
directly  opposite  was  informed  next  day  that  the  boat 
would  be  returned  on  proper  application  to  me,  and  I 
have  now  only  to  repeat  that  assurance. 

"  In  conclusion,  I  take  leave  to  state  that  I  consider 


GENERAL  ARISTA. 


WARLIKE    PREPARATIONS.  105 

the  tone  of  your  communication  highly  exceptionable, 
where  you  stigmatize  the  movement  of  the  army  un 
der  my  orders  as  '  marked  with  the  seal  of  universal 
reprobation.'  You  must  be  aware  that  such  language 
is  not  respectful  in  itself,  either  to  me  or  my  govern 
ment  ;  and  while  I  observe  in  my  own  correspondence 
the  courtesy  due  to  your  high  position,  and  to  the  mag 
nitude  of  the  interests  writh  which  we  are  respectively 
charged,  I  shall  expect  the  same  in  return." 

In  the  meantime,  matters  were  rapidly  ripening  for 
an  open  resort  to  arms,  and  everything  indicated  too 
surely  that  the  Mexicans  were  only  waiting  for  the 
most  favorable  time  to  strike  a  blow  at  our  army  that 
should  annihilate  it,  and  rid  themselves  of  such  unwel 
come  neighbors.  They  did  not  rely  alone  on  the  power 
of  their  arms  to  accomplish  that  object.  They  resorted 
to  the  less  dangerous  expedient  of  attempting  to  corrupt 
the  fidelity  of  the  American  soldiers,  and  of  inducing 
them  to  desert,  by  the  most  tempting  offers  of  lands 
and  promotions.  Addresses  were  issued  to  them  con 
taining  these  flattering  propositions,  which  they  always 
found  means  to  have  introduced  into  General  Taylor's 
camp.  One  of  these  papers,  signed  by  Arista,  who  had 
superseded  Ampudia  in  the  command  of  the  Mexican 
forces,  and  which  will  be  found  below,  most  artfully 
appeals  to  the  cupidity  and  prejudices  of  those  soldiers 
not  native  citizens  of  the  United  States. 

"  HEADQUARTERS  AT  MATAMORAS,  > 
April  26,  1846.  J 

"  SOLDIERS  ! — You  have  enlisted  in  time  of  peace  to 
serve  in  that  army  for  a  specific  term ;  but  your  obli 
gation  never  implied  that  you  were  bound  to  violate 
the  laws  of  God,  and  the  most  sacred  rights  of  friends ! 
The  United  States  government,  contrary  to  the  wishes 


106  ATTEMPT    AT    CORRUPTION. 

of  a  majority  of  all  honest  and  honorable  Americans, 
has  ordered  you  to  take  forcible  possession  of  the  terri 
tory  of  a  friendly  neighbor,  who  has  never  given  her 
consent  to  such  occupation.  In  other  words,  while 
there  exists  a  treaty  of  peace  and  commerce  between 
Mexico  and  the  United  States,  the  United  States,  pre 
suming  on  her  strength  and  prosperity,  and  on  our  sup 
posed  imbecility  and  cowardice,  attempts  to  make  you 
the  blind  instruments  of  her  unholy  and  mad  ambition, 
and  force  you  to  appear  as  the  hateful  robbers  of  our 
dear  homes,  and  the  unprovoked  violators  of  our  dear 
est  feelings  as  men  and  patriots.  Such  villany  and 
outrage,  I  know,  is  perfectly  repugnant  to  the  noble 
sentiments  of  any  gentleman,  and  it  is  base  and  foul  to 
rush  you  on  to  certain  death,  in  order  to  aggrandize  a 
few  lawless  individuals,  in  defiance  of  the  laws  of  God 
and  man ! 

"  It  is  to  no  purpose  if  they  tell  you,  that  the  law  of 
the  annexation  of  Texas  justifies  your  occupation  of 
the  Rio  Bravo  del  Norte  ;  for  by  this  act  they  rob  us 
of  a  great  part  of  Tamaulipas,  Coahuili,  Chihuahua, 
and  New  Mexico  ;  and  it  is  barbarous  to  send  a  hand 
ful  of  men  on  such  an  errand  against  a  powerful  and 
warlike  nation.  Besides,  the  most  of  you  are  Europe 
ans,  and  we  are  the  declared  friends  of  a  majority  of 
the  nations  of  Europe.  The  North  Americans  are 
ambitious,  overbearing,  and  insolent  as  a  nation,  and 
they  will  only  make  use  of  you  as  vile  tools  to  carry 
out  their  abominable  plans  of  pillage  and  rapine. 

"  I  warn  you  in  the  name  of  justice,  honor,  and  your 
own  interests  and  self-respect,  to  abandon  their  despe 
rate  and  unholy  cause,  and  become  peaceful  Mexican 
citizens.  I  guarantee  you,  in  such  case,  a  half  section 
of  land,  or  three  hundred  and  twenty  acres,  to  settle 


MEXICANS    CROSS    THE    RIO    GRAXDE.  107 

upon,  gratis.  Be  wise,  then,  and  just,  and  honorable, 
and  take  no  part  in  murdering  us  who  have  no  unkind 
feelings  for  you.  Lands  shall  be  given  to  officers,  ser 
geants,  and  corporals,  according  to  rank,  privates  re 
ceiving  three  hundred  and  twenty  acres,  as  stated. 

"  If  in  time  of  action  you  wish  to  espouse  our  cause, 
throw  away  your  arms  and  run  to  us,  and  we  will  em 
brace  you  as  true  friends  and  Christians.  It  is  not  de 
cent  nor  prudent  to  say  more.  But  should  any  of  you 
render  important  service  to  Mexico,  you  shall  be  ac 
cordingly  considered  and  preferred." 

'  It  has  already  been  stated  that  General  Taylor  had 
established  a  depot  of  provisions,  arms,  and  munitions 
of  war  at  Point  Isabel.  On  the  24th  of  April,  informa 
tion  was  received  by  him  that  twenty-five  hundred 
Mexicans  had  crossed  the  Rio  Grande,  part  above  and 
part  below  his  camp,  and  cutting  off  all  communication 
between  Fort  Brown  and  Point  Isabel.  Captain  Ker's 
squadron  of  dragoons  was  immediately  ordered  to  re 
connoitre  the  country  between  the  two  positions,  and 
Captain  Thornton  was  dispatched  above  the  Fort  for 
the  same  purpose.  The  latter  proceeded  up  the  river 
for  about  twenty  miles,  when  his  Mexican  guide  re 
fused  to  proceed  any  further,  alleging  as  his  reason 
that  the  country  was  filled  with  Mexican  troops.  Cap 
tain  Thornton  proceeded  to  move  on,  however,  until 
he  came  to  a  farm-house  and  plantation,  which  were 
entirely  surrounded  by  a  thick  chapparal  fence.  He 
entered  the  plantation  with  his  squadron  in  single  file, 
and  while  making  inquiries  at  the  house  he  was  com 
pletely  surrounded  and  taken  by  surprise  by  a  Mexican 
force  of  several  hundred  infantry  and  cavalry,  under  the 
command  of  General  Torrejon.  Captain  Thornton 
charged  upon  the  Mexican  cavalry  in  gallant  style,  and 


108  SURPRISE    OF    CAPTAIN    THORNTON. 

drove  them  back.  But  the  infantry,  from  every  quar 
ter  of  the  chapparal,  poured  in  a  destructive  fire  upon 
his  command,  and  prevented  them  from  reaching  the 
opening  by  which  they  had  entered.  Thornton,  how 
ever,  succeeded  in  clearing  the  chaparral  hedge  and 
making  his  escape,  though  his  noble  charger  was  se 
verely  wounded  in  the  act  of  making  this  extraordi 
nary  leap.  His  followers  were  less  fortunate  in  the 
attempt.  They  immediately  rallied  under  Captain  Har- 
dee,  upon  whom  the  command  now  devolved,  and  en 
deavored  to  escape  from  the  snare  in  which  they  had 
become  so  fatally  entangled,  by  escaping  to  the  Mexi 
can  side  of  the  river.  But  here  they  a.crain  failed,  the 
banks  of  the  stream  being  impassable.  All  retreat 
being  thus  rendered  impossible,  Captain  Hardee  ex 
pressed  his  willingness  to  surrender,  on  condition  that 
the  Mexican  commander  would  guarantee  to  him  and 
his  men  the  treatment  to  which  prisoners  of  war  are 
entitled  amongst  civilized  nations,  and  he  declared  their 
determination  fo  sell  their  lives  as  dearly  as  possible, 
if  such  terms  should  be  refused.  This  assurance,  how 
ever,  was  readily  given,  when  the  Americans  surren 
dered  themselves  prisoners  of  war,  and  were  taken  to 
Matamoras.  This  remarkable  victory  of  three  or  four 
hundred  Mexicans  over  twenty-five  Americans,  was 
received  with  unbounded  delight  by  the  Mexican  army, 
and  filled  their  imaginations  with  numerous  future  tri 
umphs  over  the  American  arms.  Upon  the  receipt  of 
the  tidings,  General  Arista  issued  the  following  glow 
ing  congratulatory  letter  to  General  Torrejon  : — 

"  This  has  been  a  day  of  rejoicing  to  all  the  Division 
of  the  North,  it  having  this  day  been  known  of  the  tri 
umph  achieved  by  the  brigade  which  your  excellency 
so  worthily  commands.  The  rejoiced  country  will 


MEXICAN    REJOICING.  109 

doubtless  celebrate  this  preliminary  of  glorious  deeds 
that  her  happy  sons  will  in  future  present  to  her.  Your 
excellency  will  communicate  to  your  brave  soldiers 
that  I  have  seen  with  the  greatest  pleasure  their  valiant 
behavior,  and  that  I  await  for  the  detailed  dispatch  to 
elevate  it  to  the  knowledge  of  the  supreme  government, 
so  that  the  nation  may  learn  the  triumph  of  your  arms." 

Captain  Thornton  succeeded  in  reaching  the  Amer 
ican  camp  within  five  miles,  after  almost  miraculously 
escaping  a  perfect  shower  of  Mexican  bullets,  while 
fleeing  through  their  lines,  when  he  was  captured  and 
taken  to  Matamoras.  He  remained  there  for  some 
time,  but  was  finally  given  up.  In  this  encounter  Lieu 
tenant  G.  T.  Mason  was  killed. 

Captain  Ker,  with  his  detachment,  after  having  re- 
connoitered  the  country  between  Fort  Frown  and  the 
mouth  of  the  Rio  Grande,  returned,  without  having 
fallen  in  with  the  enemy.  On  the  28th,  however,  Cap 
tain  Walker,  of  the  Texas  Rangers,  who  was  at  Point 
Isabel,  attempted  a  reconnoissance  of  the  route  towards 
General  Taylor's  headquarters,  but  was  driven  back 
with  some  loss,  having  encountered  a  force  of  fifteen 
hundred  men.  The  next  day  he  made  a  successful 
attempt  to  convey  a  message  from  Major  Munroe,  in 
command  at  Point  Isabel,  to  General  Taylor. 


CHAPTER  IV.      . 

General  Taylor  leaves  Fort  Brown. — Mexicans  prepare  to  Dispute  his 
Passage. — Mexican  estimate  of  their  Valor. — Charge  of  Cowardice 
against  General  Taylor. —  Bombardment  of  Fort  Brown. — Further 
account  of  their  Glorious  Deeds. — Erect  a  Battery  in  the  rear  of  the 
Fort. — Death  of  Major  Brown. — The  Fort  Summoned  to  Surrender. 
— Refusal. — Bombardment  Resumed. — Taylor  starts  on  his  return 
from  Point  Isabel.— Meets  the  Enemy.— Battle  of  Palo  Alto.— The 
Details. 

ON  the  1st  of  May,  1846,  immediately  after  receiv 
ing  the  message  of  Major  Munroe,  General  Taylor  left 
his  intrenchments  opposite  Matamoras,  and  took  up  his 
line  of  march  for  Point  Isabel,  determined  to  open  the 
communication  between  the  two  positions,  at  all  haz 
ards,  and  to  fight  the  enemy,  however  strong  he  might 
be.  He  left  Major  Jacob  Brown,  a  brave  and  accom 
plished  officer,  in  command  of  Fort  Brown,  with  the 
Seventh  regiment  of  infantry,  and  two  companies  of 
artillery,  the  latter  commanded  by  Captain  Lowd,  and 
Lieutenant  Bragg,  respectively,  making  a  force  of  about 
five  hundred  effective  men.  Arista  mistook  the  move 
ment  of  General  Taylor  towards  Point  Isabel  for  a  pre 
cipitate  retreat  of  the  American  forces,  and  forthwith 
dispatched  a  bulletin  to  Mexico,  announcing  the  fact ; 
or,  if  he  did  not  himself  believe  our  army  intended  to 
letreat,  he  meant  to  create  such  an  impression  amongst 
the  Mexican  soldiers,  and  in  the  mind  of  his  own  gov 
ernment.  All  the  movements  of  General  Taylor  seem 


AN    IMAGINARY    VICTORY.  Ill 

to  have  been  well  known  at  Matamoras,  however  im 
perfectly  his  motives  and  intentions  were  understood, 
and  preparations  were  accordingly  made  for  cutting 
him  off.  The  designs  of  the  Mexican  generals  are  re 
vealed  in  the  following  semi-official  communication, 
taken  from  the  El  Monitor  Republicano  of  May  4th, 
three  days  after  General  Taylor  left  Fort  Brown.  It  is 
in  the  usual  exaggerated  and  grandiloquent  style  of 
Mexican  documents,  but  it  reveals  the  feelings  which 
they  entertained  towards  the  Americans  before  the 
breaking  out  of  hostilities,  and  the  large  expectations 
of  success  by.  which  they  were  governed  : — 

"  On  the  first  of  this  month  (May)  at  eleven  o'clock  in 
the  morning,  the  general-in-chief  left  this  place  (Mata 
moras)  to  join  the  army,  who  several  hours  before  had 
left  with  the  intention  of  crossing  the  river  at  a  short 
distance  from  the  camp  of  the  enemy.  In  consequence 
of  the  orders  given,  so  that  this  dangerous  operation 
might  be  performed  with  due  security,  and  according 
to  the  rules  of  military  art,  when  our  troops  arrived  at 
the  spot  designated  for  the  crossing  of  the  river,  the 
left  bank  was  already  occupied  by  Gen.  D.  Anastasio 
Torrejon,  with  all  the  force  under  his  command.  The 
enthusiasm  of  our  soldiers  to  conquer  the  obstacles 
which  separated  them  from  the  enemy  was  so  great, 
that  they  showed  themselves  impatient  of  the  delay 
occasioned  by  the  bad  condition  of  some  of  the  flat 
boats,  which  had  been  very  much  injured  in  the  trans 
portation  by  land,  and  could  not  be  used,  as  they  would 
fill  up  with  water  as  soon  as  they  were  launched.  In 
spite  of  that  obstacle,  the  work  wrent  on  with  such  ac 
tivity,  and  so  great  was  the  ardor  of  the  most  excellent 
general-in-chief,  whose  orders  were  obeyed  with  the 
greatest  promptness  and  precision,  that  a  few  hours 


112  MEXICAN    BOASTING. 

were  sufficient  to  transport,  to  the  opposite  bank  of  the 
Bravo,  a  strong  division,  with  all  its  artillery  and  train. 

"  This  rapid  and  well  combined  movement  ought  to 
nave  proved  to  the  invaders  not  only  that  the  Mexicans 
possess  instruction  and  aptness  for  war,  but  that  those 
qualities  are  now  brought  forth  by  the  purest  patriot 
ism.  The  Northern  Division,  fearless  of  fatigue,  and 
levelling  all  difficulties,  ran  to  seek  an  enemy  who,  well 
sheltered  under  parapets,  and  defended  with  guns  of 
a  large  calibre,  could  wait  for  the  attack  with  indis 
putable  advantage.  With  deep  trenches,  with  a  multi 
tude  of  fortifications,  the  defence  was  easy  against  those 
who  presented  themselves  with  their  naked  breasts. 

"  But  General  Taylor  dared  not  resist  the  valor  and 
enthusiasm  of  the  sons  of  Mexico.  Well  did  he  foresee 
the  intrepidity  with  which  our  soldiers  would  rush 
against  the  usurpers  of  the  national  territory.  Well 
did  he  know  the  many  injuries  which  were  to  be 
avenged  by  those  who  had  taken  up  arms,  not  to  ag 
grandize  themselves  with  the  spoils  of  the  property  of 
others,  but  to  maintain  the  independence  of  their  coun 
try.  Well  did  he  know,  we  repeat  it,  that  the  Mexi 
cans  would  be  stopped  neither  by  trenches,  or  fortresses, 
or  large  artillery.  Thus  it  was  that  the  chief  of  the 
American  forces,  frightened  as  soon  as  he  perceived 
from  the  situation  and  proximity  of  his  camp,  that  our 
army  were  preparing  to  cross  the  river,  left  with  pre 
cipitation  for  Point  Isabel,  with  almost  all  his  troops, 
eight  pieces  of  artillery,  and  a  few  wagons.  Their 
march  was  observed  from  our  position,  and  the  most 
excellent  General  D.  Francisco  Mejia  immediately  sent 
an  express  extraordinary  to  communicate  the  news  to 
the  most  excellent  general-in-chief.  Here  let  me  pay 
to  our  brave  men  the  tribute  which  they  deserve.  The 


A    CHARGE    OF    COWARDICE.  113 

express  verbally  informed  some  of  the  troops  which  had 
not  yet  arrived  at  the  ford,  of  the  escape  of  the  Ameri 
cans  ;  in  one  instant,  all  the  soldiers  spontaneously 
crossed  the  river,  almost  racing  one  with  another. 
Such  was  the  ardor  with  which  they  crossed  the  river 
to  attack  the  enemy. 

"  The  terror  and  haste  with  which  the  latter  fled  to 
the  fort,  to  shut  themselves  up  in  it  and  avoid  a  con 
flict,  frustrated  the  active  measures  of  the  most  excel 
lent  Senor  General  Arista,  which  were  to  order  the 
cavalry  to  advance  in  the  plain  and  to  cut  off  the  flight 
of  the  fugitives.  But  it  was  not  possible  to  do  so,  not 
withstanding  their  forced  march  during  the  night. 
General  Taylor  left  his  camp  at  2  o'clock  in  the  after 
noon,  and,  as  fear  has  wings,  he  succeeded  in  shutting 
himself  up  in  the  fort.  When  our  cavalry  reached  the 
point  where  they  were  to  detain  him,  he  had  already 
passed,  and  was  several  leagues  ahead.  Great  was  the 
sorrow  of  our  brave  men  not  to  have  been  able  to  meet 
the  enemy  face  to  face ;  their  defeat  was  certain,  and 
the  main  body  of  that  invading  army,  who  thought 
that  they  inspired  the  Mexicans  with  so  much  respect, 
would  have  disappeared  in  the  first  important  battle. 
But  there  wras  some  fighting  to  be  done  ;  and  the 
Americans  do  not  know  how  to  use  other  arms  but 
those  of  duplicity  and  treachery.  Why  did  they  not 
remain  with  firmness  under  their  colors  ?  Why  did 
they  abandon  the  ground  which  they  pretend  to  usurp 
with  such  iniquity  ?  Thus  has  an  honorable  general 
kept  his  word.  Had  not  General  Taylor  said,  in  all 
his  communications,  that  he  was  prepared  to  repel  all 
hostilities  ?  Why,  then,  does  he  fly  in  so  cowardly  a 
manner  to  shut  himself  up  at  the  Point  ?  The  com- 
mander-in-chief  of  the  American  army  has  covered 


114  FORT    BROWN    BOMBARDED. 

himself  with  opprobrium  and  ignominy  in  sacrificing  a 
part  of  his  forces,  whom  he  left  in  the  fortifications,  to 
save  himself;  for  it  is  certain  that  he  will  not  return  to 
their  assistance — not  that  he  is  ignorant  of  their  peril, 
but  he  calculates  that  this  would  be  greater  if  he  had 
the  temerity  of  attempting  to  resist  the  Mexican  lances 
and  bayonets  in  the  open  plain." 

The  Mexican  general  conceived  that,  as  General 
Taylor  had  "  retreated"  from  Fort  Brown,  the  small 
detachment  left  to  defend  it  must  fall  a  very  easy  prey 
to  Mexican  valor  and  prowess.  On  the  3rd  of  May, 
they  opened  upon  it  a  fire  from  a  seven-gun  battery, 
which  was  returned  by  Major  Brown  with  great  spirit 
and  effect,  silencing  their  guns  in  a  very  few  moments. 
They  immediately  commenced  another  attack,  how 
ever,  with  shot  and  shell,  killing  Sergeant  Weigard 
while  at  his  post,  but  doing  little  other  damage.  The 
firing  upon  the  fort  was  heard  by  General  Taylor,  at 
Point  Isabel,  and  he  immediately  dispatched  Captains 
May  and  Walker  to  ascertain  the  position  of  affairs 
there.  They  returned  with  intelligence  that  the  fort 
was  in  a  condition  to  resist  any  force  that  could  be 
brought  against  it. 

The  result  of  their  first  day's  bombardment  of  Fort 
Brown  filled  the  Mexicans  with  even  greater  delight, 
if  possible,  than  the  remarkable  achievement  of  sur 
prising  and  capturing  Captain  Thornton's  handful  of 
men  with  their  overwhelming  force.  Great  rejoicings 
were  had  in  Matamoras  over  the  brilliant  achievement, 
and  an  official  dispatch,  in  the  following  terms,  was  for 
warded  to  the  Mexican  government : 

"But  let  us  relate  the  glorious  events  of  yesterday. 
As  Aurora  dawned,  we  began  to  fire  from  our  ram 
parts  on  the  fortifications  of  the  enemy,  and  the  thun- 


THE  ENEMY'S  ACCOUNT  OF  IT.  115 

der  of  Mexican  cannon  was  saluted  by  the  reveille 
from  every  point  of  our  line,  by  the  bell  of  the  paro 
chial  church,  and  by  the  vivas  of  the  inhabitants  of 
Matamoras.  In  a  moment  the  streets  were  filled,  and 
all  were  rejoiced  to  see  at  last  the  hour  arrived,  when 
we  were  to  give  a  terrible  lesson  to  the  American 
camp,  whose  odious  presence  could  no  longer  be  tole 
rated.  The  enemy  answered,  but  they  were  soon 
convinced  that  their  artillery,  although  of  a  superior 
calibre,  could  not  compete  with  ours.  After  a  fire  of 
five  hours,  our  ramparts  remained  immovable,  on  ac 
count  of  the  solidity  of  their  construction,  and  the  in 
telligence  with  which  the  rules  of  art  had  been  observed. 
The  same  did  not  happen  to  the  American  fortifica 
tions,  whose  bastions  were  so  completely  demolished, 
that  towards  eleven  o'clock  in  the  morning  their  artil 
lery  ceased  to  play,  and  their  fire  was  hushed.  We 
continued  to  fire  with  activity  during  the  day,  without 
the  enemy's  daring  to  respond  to  us,  because  the  para 
pets  under  which  they  would  shelter  themselves  being 
destroyed,  they  had  not  courage  to  load  their  guns, 
which  remained  uncovered.  This  result  shows  us  of 
what  in  reality  consists  the  exalted  skill  of  the  Ameri 
can  artillerists.  They  have  eighteen  pounders,  and 
we  have  nothing  larger  than  eight  pounders ;  and  yet 
the  intelligence  and  practice  of  the  Mexicans  sufficed 
to  conquer  those  who  had  superior  arms.  Unequalled 
glory  and  eternal  honor  to  our  brave  artillerymen. 

"  The  enemy,  in  their  impotent  rage,  and  before 
they  concealed  their  shame  behind  the  most  distant 
parapets,  had  the  barbarous  pleasure  of  aiming  their 
guns  towards  the  city,  to  destroy  its  edifices,  as  it  was 
not  in  their  power  to  destroy  the  fortifications  from 
which  they  received  so  much  injury.  This  wicked  re- 


116  THEIR    OPINION    OF    AMERICAN    TROOPS. 

venge,  which  only  springs  from  cowardly  and  miser 
able  souls,  did  not  meet  with  the  success  expected  by 
those  who  so  unworthily  adorn  themselves  with  the 
title  of  savans  and  philanthropists.  Their  stupidity 
was  equal  to  their  wickedness.  Almost  all  the  balls 
passed  too  high ;  and  those  which  touched  the  houses, 
although  they  were  eighteen  pounders,  did  not  cause 
any  other  mischief  but  that  of  piercing  one  or  two 
walls.  If  those  who  conceived  the  infamous  design  of 
destroying  Matamoras,  had  seen  the  contemptuous 
laughter  with  which  the  owners  of  those  houses  showed 
their  indifference  for  the  losses  which  they  might  sus 
tain,  they  would  have  admired  the  patriotism  and  dis 
interestedness  of  the  Mexicans,  always  ready  to  un 
dergo  the  greatest  sacrifices,  when  it  is  necessary  to 
maintain  their  nationality  and  independence.  The 
glorious  3rd  of  May  is  another  brilliant  testimony  of 
this  truth ;  through  the  thickest  of  the  firing,  one  could 
remark  the  most  ardent  enthusiasm  on  all  faces,  and 
hardly  had  a  ball  fallen,  when  even  the  children  would 
look  for  it,  without  fearing  that  another  aimed  in  the 
same  manner  should  fall  in  the  same  place.  That,  we 
saw  ourselves  in  the  public  square,  where  a  multitude 
of  citizens  were  assembled. 

"  The  triumph  of  our  arms  has  been  complete,  and 
we  have  only  to  lament  the  loss  of  a  sergeant  and 
two  artillerymen,  who  fell  gloriously  in  fighting  for  their 

country.     The  families  of  those  victims  ou^ht  to  be 

* 

taken  care  of  by  the  supreme  government,  to  whose 
paternal  gratitude  they  have  been  recommended  by 
the  most  excellent  senor  general-in-chief.  We  must 
also  be  consoled  by  the  thought  that  the  blood  of  these 
brave  men  has  been  revenged  by  their  bereaved  com 
panions.  As  many  of  our  balls  passed  through  the 


WHAT    THEY    CONSIDER    A    TRIUMPH.  117 

enemy's  embrasures,  the  loss  to  the  Americans  must 
have  been  very  great ;  and  although  we  do  not  know 
exactly  the  number  of  their  dead,  the  most  accurate 
information  makes  it  amount  to  fifty-six.  It  is  probable 
that  such  is  the  case.  Since  eleven  o'clock  in  the 
morning,  the  abandonment  of  their  guns,  merely  be 
cause  two  of  them  were  dismounted,  and  the  others 
were  uncovered ;  the  panic-terror  with  which,  in  all 
haste,  they  took  refuge  in  their  furthest  entrenchments, 
taking  away  from  the  camp  all  that  could  suffer  from 
the  attack  of  our  artillery ;  the  destruction  which  must 
have  been  occasioned  by  the  bombs,  so  well  aimed,  that 
some  would  burst  at  a  yard's  distance  from  the  ground 
in  their  descent  to  the  point  where  they  were  to  fall ; 
everything  contributes  to  persuade  that  indeed  the 
enemy  have  suffered  a  terrible  loss.  If  it  were  not  the 
case — if  they  preserved  some  remnant  of  valor,  why 
did  they  not  dare  to  repair  their  fortifications  in  the 
night.  It  is  true  that,  from  time  to  time,  a  few  guns 
were  fired  on  them  in  the  night,  but  their  aim  could 
not  be  certain,  and  cowardice  alone  could  force  them 
not  to  put  themselves  in  an  attitude  to  return  the  fire 
which  was  poured  on  them  again  at  daylight.  No 
American  put  out  his  head ;  silence  reigned  in  their 
camp ;  and  for  this  reason  we  have  suspended  our  fire 
;  to-day — that  there  is  no  enemy  to  meet  our  batteries. 

"  To  conclude,  we  will  give  a  brilliant  paragraph 
relating  to  the  contest,  by  the  most  excellent  senor 
general-in-chief,  as  to  the  part  which  he  took  in  the 
events  of  yesterday.  He  says  thus  :  '  Mexico  must 
glorify  herself,  and  especially  the  valiant  men  of  the 
Division  of  the  North,  that  a  force  inferior  in  its  ele 
ments,  and  perhaps  in  number  also,  and  which  required 
nearly  two  months  to  swell  itself  with  the  auxiliaries 


118  MEXICAN    VALOR. 

coming  from  the  capital,  should  meet  in  an  immense 
plain,  defying  the  army  of  the  United  States,  and  the 
whole  power  of  that  republic,  without  their  opponents, 
who  could  receive  succor  in  the  space  of  fifty  hours, 
daring  to  leave  the  fort  to  give  us  battle.' 

"  From  the  news  which  we  publish  to-day,  it  will  be 
seen  that  the  Northern  Division,  so  deservedly  in 
trusted  with  the  first  operations  against  the  North 
American  army,  has  most  nobly  filled  its  highly  im 
portant  mission.  Not  that  we  mean  to  be  understood 
as  considering  its  task  is  yet  fully  completed,  but  we 
anticipate,  before  the  end  of  the  present  week,  to  wit 
ness  the  total  discomfiture  of  the  enemy,  who  has  had 
the  temerity  to  answer  the  fire  of  our  batteries ;  of 
those  batteries  that  gave  them  yesterday  such  abun 
dant  proof  of  that  valor,  so  characteristic  of  the  Mex 
icans  :  a  valor  rendered  famous  in  a  hundred  bloody 
contests !  It  were  endless  to  recount  all  the  acts  of 
patriotism  performed  by  the  troops  of  the  garrison,  and 
the  valiant  citizens  who  shared  in  the  defence  of  the 
city — they  courted  danger  with  that  intrepidity  always 
inspired  by  a  just  cause. 

"  So  rapid  is  the  fire  of  our  guns,  that  the  batteries 
of  the  enemy  have  been  silenced.  But  what  is  most 
worthy  of  notice,  as  showing  the  great  enthusiasm  of 
this  place,  is  the  fact  that  many  of  the  inhabitants,  of 
both  sexes,  in  the  hottest  of  the  cannonade,  remained 
firm  in  front  of  the  enemy,  filled  with  enthusiasm  ; 
indeed,  fear  is  always  unknown  to  those  whose  mission 
is  to  avenge  an  outrage  upon  the  sacred  rights  of  their 
beloved  country, 

"  From  our  account  of  the  war,  the  wrorld  will  judge 
of  the  great  superiority  of  our  troops,  in  courage  as 
well  as  skill,  over  the  Americans.  It  is  indeed  wonder- 


THEIR    SUPERIORITY    OVER    AMERICAN'S.  119 

ful  to  witness  the  dismay  of  the  enemy  :  rare  is  the 
occurrence  when  an  American  ventures  outside  of  the 
breastwork.  There  can  be  no  doubt  of  this,  that  the 
Mexicans  will  be  considered  by  foreign  nations  as  the 
very  emblems  of  patriotism.  How  evident  that  they 
inherit  the  blood  of  the  noble  sons  of  Pelayo  !  Happy 
they  who  have  met  with  so  glorious  a  death  in  defend 
ing  the  territory  bequeathed  to  them  by  their  fathers ! 

"  The  nation  with  which  we  are  at  war  is  most 
savage  in  its  proceedings ;  no  regard  being  paid  to  the 
flags  of  friendly  nations :  even  those  usages  and  cus 
toms  respected  by  civilized  nations,  to  divest  war  of 
some  of  its  horrors,  have  been  shamefully  disregarded. 
The  enemy  have  fired  red  shot  against  this  innocent 
city,  and  we  publish  it  to  the  world  in  proof  that,  with 
all  their  boasted  wisdom  and  liberty,  they  are  unworthy 
of  being  counted  among  enlightened  nations. 

"  His  excellency,  the  general-in-chief  of  the  Northern 
Division,  and  his  intrepid  soldiers,  are  ready  to  fight 
the  enemy  in  any  numbers,  and  we  are  certain  that 
our  arms  will  be  successful ;  but  the  nation  against 
whom  we  have  to  contend  is  excessively  proud ;  and 
it  is  also  possessed  of  resources  which  may  perhaps 
surpass  those  within  our  reach.  Let  us  then  make  an 
immense  effort  to  repel  their  aggressions.  Let  us  con 
tribute  everything  most  dear  to  us,  our  persons,  our 
means,  to  save  our  country  frorr  its  present  danger 
Let  us  oppose  to  the  unbridled  ambition  of  the  Anglo- 
American,  that  patriotic  enthusiasm,  so  peculiar  to  us. 
Indeed,  we  need  only  follow  the  glorious  example  of 
JMatamoras,  that  noble  city,  which  will  be  known  in 
future  by  the  name  of  Heroic.  Its  inhabitants  have 
emulated  the  examples  of  Menamia,  and  Sagantum ; 
they  have  determined  to  die  at  the  foot  of  the  eagle  of 


120  DEATH    OF    MAJOR    BROWN. 

Anahuac,  defend  their  fort  whilst  they  retain  the  breath 
of  life — this  plan  is  settled.  The  supreme  government 
is  making  strenuous  exertions  in  order  to  protect  the 
territory  placed  under  its  care  by  the  nation,  and 
nothing  is  now  wanting  but  for  the  people  to  rush  in  a 
mass  to  the  frontier,  and  the  independence  of  Mexico 
is  safe." 

During  the  night  of  the  4th  of  May,  a  large  body  of 
Mexican  troops  crossed  the  river  arid  erected  a  strong 
battery  in  the  rear  of  Fort  Brown,  and  on  the  morning 
of  the  5th  a  heavy  fire  was  opened  from  this  battery, 
and  the  fort  was  assailed  with  great  vigor.  At  the 
same  time  a  hot  fire  was  opened  from  the  batteries  at 
Matamoras,  and  a  galling  discharge  of  shot  and  shell 
was  kept  up  for  about  an  hour.  The  fire  of  the  enemy 
fi;om  both  these  positions  was  returned  with  spirit  and 
effect,  by  Major  Brown,  until  they  were  silenced  for 
the  day.  Early  on  the  morning  of  the  6th,  the  fire 
from  the  enemy's  batteries  was  renewed  with  increased 
vigor,  their  shot  and  shell  falling  in  every  direction, 
tearing  tents  to  pieces  and  wounding  many  of  the 
horses.  But  for  the  great  size  of  the  field-works  and 
the  very  few  men  to  defend  it,  the  loss  of  life  must 
have  been  very  severe.  As  it  was,  the  only  one  who 
fell  during  the  bombardment,  which  continued  through 
out  the  day,  was  Major  Brown,  the  noble,  high-minded 
and  accomplished  commander  of  the  fort.  After  the 
firing  had  continued  for  several  hours,  this  gallant 
officer  took  his  usual  round  to  satisfy  himself  that 
every  man  was  at  his  post  and  in  the  performance  of 
his  duties.  While  making  his  observations  he  was 
struck  by  a  shell,  which  took  off  one  of  his  legs,  and 
dreadfully  mangled  him.  He  was  immediately  taken 
to  the  hospital  and  his  leg  amputated  above  the  knee. 


SUMMONS  TO  FORT  BROWX.  121 

But  he  could  not  be  saved,  and  after  lingering  until 
the  9th  of  May,  he  died,  universally  lamented,  not  only 
by  the  army,  who  best  knew  his  worth,  but  by  the 
whole  country.  Few  men,  indeed,  had  obtained  a 
stronger  hold  upon  the  affection  of  the  soldiers,  or 
was  more  sincerely  esteemed  by  his  brother  officers, 
of  whatever  rank,  than  Major  Brown. 

Upon  leaving  Fort  Brown  for  Point  Isabel,  General 
Taylor  gave  orders  to  Major  Brown  to  maintain  his 
post,  whatever  contingency  might  arise,  and  under  no 
circumstances  to  hazard  his  position  by  making  a  sally 
against  the  enemy.  In  the  event  of  the  fort  being  sur 
rounded  and  an  assault  made  upon  him,  he  was  ordered 
to  warn  him  of  the  fact,  by  firing,  at  stated  intervals, 
his  eighteen  pounders.  On  the  evening  of  that  day, 
accordingly,  the  signal  guns  were  fired,  and  their  warn 
ing  voice  informed  him,  though  many  miles  distant, 
that  the  contemplated  danger  was  threatening  the  gal 
lant  defenders  of  Fort  Brown.  These  signal  guns 
seemed  to  stimulate  the  enemy  to  still  more  active  ex 
ertions  to  capture  the  fort,  before  they  could  call  Gene 
ral  Taylor  back  to  its  aid.  So  satisfied  were  they  that 
they  were  making  dreadful  havoc  amongst  the  Ameri 
cans,  and  that  Captain  Hawkins,  who  had  succeeded 
Major  Brown  in  command,  could  not  hold  out  against 
their  destructive  fire,  that  Arista  summoned  him  to 
surrender,  out  of  pure  humanity.  Captain  Hawkins, 
however,  was  wholly  insensible  to  this  magnanimous 
conduct,  and  informed  him  that,  as  his  interpreter  was 
not  skilled  in  Spanish,  he  might  not  have  understood 
his  communication,  but  if  he  did,  he  should  respectfully 
decline  to  surrender  the  fort.  This  indifference  to  the 
humane  proposition,  brought  upon  the  fort  a  more 
heavy  fire  from  the  Mexican  batteries  than  they  had 


122  THEIR    FIRE    RECOMMENCED. 

yet  suffered.  Shells  and  shot  were  literally  showered 
into  the  fort.  This  storm  of  iron  Captain  Hawkins 
was  unable  to  return  for  want  of  powder,  which  ren 
dered  the  condition  of  his  troops  extremely  irksome 
and  mortifying. 

With  the  morning  light  of  the  7th  the  enemy's  bat 
teries  recommenced,  but  after  pouring  into  the  fort  a 
large  number  of  shot  and  shell,  they  suddenly  ceased. 
About  half-past  seven  o'clock  a  large  number  of  Mexi 
cans  were  discovered  in  and  around  the  Fanques  del 
Raminero,  and  the  houses  formerly  occupied  by  the 
guards  of  the  Second  Brigade.  Several  rounds  of  can 
ister  and  grape  were  fired  into  them,  which  caused 
them  to  make  a  precipitate  retreat,  after  throwing  a  few 
shell  in  return.  The  Mexicans  had  theretofore  used 
shell  made  of  bronze ;  they  now  used  iron,  which  they 
fired  at  intervals  until  noon.  It  was  at  this  time  dis 
covered  that  the  mortar  battery  in  the  rear  of  the  fort, 
had  been  removed  to  the  city  of  Matamoras.  About 
noon  some  shells  were  thrown,  which  killed  four  of 
Lieutenant  Bragg's  horses,  and  broke  the  wheel  of  one 
of  his  caissons.  Soon  after,  all  their  batteries  opened, 
and  kept  up  a  steady  firing  of  round  shot  and  shell, 
which  continued  for  nearly  two  hours.  By  one  of 
these  discharges  the  sentinel  lost  his  arm,  but  the  bomb 
proofs  were  so  far  advanced  that  the  men  were  com 
paratively  protected.  Random  shots  were  now  fired 
from  under  the  bank  of  the  river,  and  the  rear  of  the 
fort ;  it  was  evidently  the  determination  of  the  besiegers 
to  give  the  fort  no  rest,  and  induce  them  to  expend  all 
their  ammunition,  having  been  informed  by  deserters 
that  there  was  little  in  the  fort.  Orders  had  been  given 
to  return  no  fire  more  than  eighty  yards  distant,  and  as 
the  Mexicans  never  approached  to  within  twice  that 


A    HAPPY    OMEX.  123 

distance,  they  elicited  no  reply.  At  half-past  two  a 
regular  bombardment  commenced  from  all  the  batte 
ries,  howitzers,  and  mortars,  which  continued  without 
intermission  until  sunset. 

At  dark,  the  indefatigable  Captain  Mansfield,  with 
a  small  party,  left  the  fort,  and  levelled  the  traverse 
thrown  up  by  our  troops  when  they  first  arrived  on 
the  banks  of  the  river,  and  also  cut  down  a  large  quan 
tity  of  chapparel  that  served  at  times  to  cover  the 
"  sharp  shooters"  of  the  enemy.  Everything  after  this 
remained  quiet  until  midnight.  Each  man  was  at 
his  post,  and  anxiously  awaiting  the  assault,  when  the 
stillness  was  broken  by  volleys  of  musketry,  and  bu 
gles  "  sounding  the  charge."  The  firing  then  ceased, 
but  in  a  short  time  recommenced,  and  continued  until 
daylight. 

At  noon  the  bombardment  was  resumed,  and  kept 
up  about  two  hours.  Many  of  the  soldiers  began  to 
show  symptoms  of  being  worn  down  with  hard  labor 
and  watching ;  nature  was  becoming  exhausted,  they 
grew  indifferent  about  the  exploding  shells,  and  list 
lessly  let  them  burst  in  dangerous  proximity  to  their 
persons.  The  heavy  bombardment  had  hardly  ceased, 
when  a  severe  cannonading  was  heard  towards  Point 
Isabel ;  so  sudden  did  it  commence,  and  so  rapidly  was 
it  carried  on,  that  it  seemed  like  one  continued  volley 
of  field -pieces.  The  soldiers  in  the  fort  sprang  as  one 
man  to  their  feet,  and  listened.  The  sounds  of  artillery 
continued  to  roll  on  the  plain  ;  a  simultaneous  shout 
rose  from  the  men  in  the  fort,  that  must  have  sounded 
in  Matamoras  more  terribly  than  our  severest  cannon 
ade,  for  it  must  have  told  the  people  there  that  those 
in  the  fort  believed  that  General  Taylor  was  on  the 
advance  from  Point  Isabel.  The  enemv  felt  that  shout, 


124  TAYLOR    LEAVES    POINT    ISABEL. 

for  there  immediately  commenced  a  severer  bombard 
ment  than  the  fort  had  yet  sustained ;  and  a  new  mor 
tar  battery  having  been  opened  across  the  river,  west 
of  the  fort,  made  four  playing  upon  it  from  different 
points  at  the  same  time.  The  enemy's  cavalry  and 
infantry  were  seen  above  and  below  the  fort  crossing 
the  river  in  masses,  supposed  for  the  purpose  of  rein 
forcing  the  enemy.  At  seven  o'clock  the  bombard 
ment  ceased,  the  fort  having  received  through  the  day 
three  hundred  shot  and  shell,  with  comparatively  little 
injury. 

As  soon  as  General  Taylor  was  satisfied  by  the  sig 
nal  guns  from  Fort  Brown,  that  it  had  been  attacked 
and  war  in  danger,  he  made  prompt  preparations  for 
opening  his  communication  between  it  and  Point  Isabel 
and  for  relieving  its  gallant  defenders  from  their  peril 
ous  situation.  Accordingly,  on  the  evening  of  the  7th 
of  May,  he  left  Point  Isabel  with  a  force  of  about  twen 
ty-one  hundred  men,  and  a  train  of  two  hundred  and 
fifty  wagons,  loaded  with  provisions  and  military  stores, 
determined  to  give  the  enern^  battle,  however  numer 
ous  he  might  be.  That  night  his  army  encamped  about 
seven  miles  from  Point  Isabel,  and  resumed  his  march 
early  on  the  morning  of  the  8th.  About  twelve  o'clock, 
his  advanced  guards  reportou  that  the  Mexican  forces 
were  drawn  up  in  large  numbers  to  dispute  his  progress. 
Another  report  immediately  followed,  however,  inform 
ing  him  that  they  had  withdrawn  their  advance,  and 
were  retreating  towards  Fort  Brown.  His  wagon 
trains  and  troops  were  therefore  again  put  in  motion, 
and  progressed  until  the  country  opened  into  a  broad 
prairie,  bounded  by  Palo  Alto,  a  thick  grove  of  dwarfish 
trees.  On  both  the  *  Ight  and  left  of  the  American  army 
were  ponds  of  fresh  water,  and  beyond  them,  chopparal. 


THE    POSITION    OF    THE    E  ,'E..I\  .  125 

Upon  this  prairie  the  enemy  were  again  drawn  up,  pre 
pared  for  battle.  On  the  extreme  right  was  drawn  up 
a  division  of  Mexican  cavalry,  with  their  long,  sharp- 
pointed  lances  glittering  in  the  sun,  and  their  pennants 
gayly  waving  in  the  breeze.  Next,  were  posted  their 
artillery  and  their  heavy  bodies  of  infantry,  the  whole 
forming  a  solid  column  of  over  a  mile  in  length,  with 
artillery,  infantry  and  cavalry,  alternately  arranged, 
and  presenting  a  most  formidable  appearance. 

General  Taylor's  train  was  immediately  formed  into 
a  solid  square,  and  his  army  rapidly  advanced  until  the 
heads  of  his  column  reached  the  open  prairie.  While 
thus  advancing,  Lieutenant  J.  E.  Blake,  of  the  Topo 
graphical  Engineers,  passed  at  full  speed  the  advance 
guard,  saying  "  he  was  going  down  to  observe  the  en 
emy's  lines."  He  continued  on,  until  within  one  hun 
dred  and  fifty  yards  of  them,  when  he  dismounted,  and 
drawing  out  his  spyglass,  commenced  a  reconnoissance, 
the  boldness  of  which,  called  forth  admiration  from  the 
thousands  who  witnessed  it.  While  thus  engaged,  two 
Mexican  officers,  evidently  under  the  impression  that 
he  had  some  important  communication  to  make  to  their 
commanding  general,  rode  out  from  the  ranks  to  meet 
him ;  Lieutenant  Blake  observing  this,  remounted  his 
horse,  and  rode  deliberately  down  the  whole  of  the 
enemy's  line  ;  then  returning,  he  gave  to  General  Tay 
lor,  what  was  subsequently  proved  to  be  a  correct  ac 
count  of  the  Mexican  force,  in  both  artillery,  cavalry, 
and  infantry. 

The  space  between  the  two  armies  was  now  gradu 
ally  lessening,  and  soon  the  details  could  be  distin 
guished.  The  tall,  rank  grass  of  the  prairie,  deadened 
the  heavy  tramp  of  the  cavalry,  and  the  lumbering 
wheels  of  the  artillery ;  and  the  whole  moved  forward 


126  THE    BATTLE    BEGUN. 

so  silently  that  the  rattling  of  their  trappings  could  be 
heard  singularly  plain.  A  space  of  seven  hundred 
yards  only,  intervened  between  the  two  armies,  when 
the  batteries  on  the  right  of  the  Mexican  line  opened, 
throwing  their  ball  and  grape  over  the  heads  of  the 
Americans,  and  announcing,  in  tones  of  thunder,  that 
the  contest  had  begun.  In  quick  succession  the  whole 
of  their  artillery,  from  extreme  right  to  left,  poured  forth 
volleys  of  ball,  which  made  the  earth  tremble,  and  filled 
the  air  with  clouds  of  dust  and  sulphurous  smoke.  The 
word  was  now  given  for  the  advancing  columns  to  halt, 
and  deploy  into  line.  When  this  was  done,  Lieutenant 
Churchill's  eighteen-pounders  boomed  above  the  sur 
rounding  din,  announcing,  in  full  rolling  echoes,  that  the 
Americans  were  "  in  the  field."  Major  Ringgold's  and 
Captain  Duncan's  commands  were  now  ordered  for 
ward  into  the  open  prairie,  and  commenced  their  rapid 
discharges.  A  general  cannonading  now  raged,  un 
paralleled,  it  is  believed,  in  any  fight  upon  an  open  bat 
tle-field.  Duncan's  battery,  from  its  conspicuousness 
and  nearness  to  our  line,  had  often  the  concentrated 
fire  of  the  enemy  upon  it.  For  two  hours  twenty  or 
thirty  pieces  of  artillery  rent  the  air  with  their  thun 
ders  ;  the  iron  hail  tearing  up  the  prairie  in  deep  fur 
rows,  and  sending  the  dry  dust  in  clouds  in  the  air. 
There  was  but  little  precision  in  the  enemy's  firing. 
The  missiles  almost  invariably  passed  over  the  Ameri 
can  lines.  Far  different  was  it  with  our  own  ;  at  every 
discharge,  the  sudden  opening  that  followed  in  the  solid 
masses,  marked  the  terrible  course  of  death  where  the 
Mexican  cavalry  bit  the  dust.  The  infantry,  cool  spec 
tators  of  the  raging  battle,  marked  with  eagle  eyes  this 
havoc  in  the  opposing  ranks,  and  mingled  their  exult 
ing  shouts  with  the  din,  as  they  witnessed  the  prowess 


EFFECT  OF  OUR  ARTILLERY.  127 

of  their  companions  in  arms.  The  terrible  eighteen- 
pounders  rose  ever  above  the  tumult,  and  seemed  as  if 
keeping  time  in  solemn  sound,  as  at  every  discharge 
they  sent  their  huge  masses  of  crushing  iron  into  the 
living  wall  at  which  they  were  directed.  As  the  battle 
thickened,  the  infantry,  now  formed  in  our  rear,  grew 
impatient  to  participate  in  the  fight,  and  the  Mexican 
cavalry,  by  suffering  so  severely  by  our  artillery,  pre 
pared  for  the  charge.  The  manoeuvring  of  the  day 
now  commenced — the  time  Tor  cool  courage,  quick 
thought,  and  deeds  of  individual  heroism  had  arrived. 

A  regiment  of  Mexican  lancers,  commanded  by  Gen 
eral  Torrejon,  moved  towards  our  right,  as  it  was  sup 
posed  to  gain  possession  of  our  train.  The  Third  and 
Fifth  regiments  of  infantry,  writh  a  portion  of  Ring- 
gold's  battery,  under  the  command  of  Lieut.  Ridgeley, 
were  ordered  to  check  this  movement,  and  turn  the  left 
flank  of  the  enemy.  They,  however,  still  keeping  up 
an  irregular  fire,  continued  steadily  to  advance  toward 
our  right  and  front,  so  as  to  out-flank  our  line,  if  possi 
ble.  Upon  their  near  approach,  the  Fifth  was  thrown 
into  square,  with  Captain  Walker,  and  twenty  mounted 
men,  on  its  right.  Lieutenant  Ridgeley  having  dashed 
forward,  unlimbered  his  battery,  and  commenced  rapid 
discharges  of  grape  and  canister  upon  the  enemy's  ar 
tillery,  causing  it  to  retreat ;  but  the  lancers,  fifteen 
hundred  strong,  continued  steadily  to  advance,  in  spite 
of  all  opposition,  until  the  Fifth  poured  into  them  from 
the  head  of  the  square,  a  fire  so  deadly,  that  the  front 
of  the  cavalry  recoiled ;  great  numbers  fell  dead,  and 
those  in  the  rear,  without  pressing  forward  on  the  bay 
onets,  ready  to  receive  them,  broke  into  confusion.  A 
portion,  however,  re-formed,  and  kept  bravely  on,  in 
the  attempt  to  reach  the  trains,  when  Coloned  Twiggs 


128 

ordered  the  Third  infantry  to  the  extreme  right,  to  cut 
off  their  advance.  When  the  enemy  saw  this  move 
ment,  they  commenced  a  retreat  in  good  order,  march- 
ing  apparently  by  squadrons,  when  Lieutenant  Ridge- 
ley,  assisted  by  Lieutenant  French,  opened  his  batte 
ries,  scattering  them  in  all  directions. 

While  Lieutenant  Ridgeley  was  engaged  in  directing 
this  fire,  his  horse  was  shot  from  under  him,  and  the 
same  ball  probably  that  caused  the  death  of  his  steed, 
alarmed  the  horses  at  one  of  his  caissons,  which  sprang 
madly  forward  in  range  of  the  gun.  Lieutenant 
Ridgeley,  regardless  of  personal  danger,  rushed  forward 
between  the  two  contending  fires,  seized  the  front 
horses  by  the  head,  and  brought  them  into  their  places ; 
thus  saving  not  only  his  horses,  but  the  ammunition  of 
his  battery.  During  this  time,  Major  Ringgold's  bat 
tery  was  not  idle  ;  but,  supported  by  the  Fourth  infan 
try,  kept  up  a  galling  and  continuous  fire.  On  the  left, 
and  in  the  advance,  was  Duncan's  battery,  which,  sup 
ported  by  the  Eighth  infantry  and  Captain  Ker's  squad 
ron  of  dragoons,  poured  forth  a  terrible  discharge. 
The  dragoons,  who,  from  their  elevated  position  could 
witness  its  effects,  say  that  horses  and  riders  were  fre 
quently  blown  into  the  air,  and  long  openings  were 
often  visible  that  it  made  in  the  columns  against  which 
it  was  directed  ;  notwithstanding  this,  the  enemy's  line 
remained  unshaken.  So  rapid  were  these  discharges, 
that  the  wiry  grass  of  the  prairie,  that  reached  nearly 
up  to  the  muzzle  of  the  pieces,  dried  before  the  sheeted 
flame,  and  burst  into  a  blaze  ;  the  sulphurous  smoke  of 
the  exploded  cannon  and  the  musket  cartridges  had  al 
ready  clouded  the  air,  as  if  to  veil  the  horrors  of  war 
from  the  clear  blue  sky  above  ;  but,  when  this  confla 
gration  took  place,  the  very  heavens  were  at  times 


1  3 

oo 


2  > 


FIRMNESS    OF    THE    MEXICANS.  131 

darkened,  and  huge  masses  of  smoke  rolled  across  the 
plain,  completely  obscuring  our  lines  from  the  enemy's 
view. 

After  the  battle  had  raged  two  hours,  the  Mexican 
batteries  began  to  slacken,  and  finally  ceased  altogether. 
They  were  unable  longer  to  withstand  the  terrible  and 
destructive  fire  of  Ringgold's,  Churchill's,  Duncan's 
and  Ridgeley's  guns,  and  began  to  fall  back  for  the 
purpose  of  forming  a  new  line  of  battle  under  cover  of 
the  smoke.  Our  eighteen  pounders  were  then  moved 
forward  until  they  occupied  the  position  where  the 
Mexican  cavalry  were  posted  at  the  beginning  of  the 
battle.  The  Americans  also  formed  a  new  line,  their 
right  wing  resting  on  these  eighteen-pounders.  The 
two  armies  were  now  formed  in  parallel  lines,  but  the 
Mexicans  were  better  protected  than  in  their  first  posi 
tion,  by  the  chapparal  in  their  rear. 

Scarcely  an  hour  elapsed  before  the  action  was  re 
sumed.  It  was  commenced  by  our  artillery,  which 
was  evidently  more  destructive  than  ever.  But  the 
Mexicans  withstood  the  shock  with  great  firmness. 
Soon  after  the  action  was  renewed,  Captain  May  was 
ordered  to  attack  their  left.  He  cheerfully  obeyed  the 
order,  but  he  was  unable  to  make  much  impression  on 
the  cavalry  with  his  small  force,  and  accordingly  re 
sumed  his  former  position  without  again  having  an  op 
portunity  to  share  in  the  engagement.  It  was  now 
nearly  night,  and  the  Mexicans  resolved  to  make  one 
last  effort  to  shake  the  firmness  of  the  American  lines, 
and  to  silence  the  deadly  fire  of  the  eighteen  pounders 
and  Ringgold's  battery.  Accordingly,  they  poured  in 
upon  them  almost  a  literal  tempest  of  balls.  Captain 
Page  fell,  mortally  wounded,  a  cannon  ball  having  car 
ried  away  the  whole  of  his  lower  jaw,  and  the  brave 


132  DEATH    OF    MAJOR    RINGGOLD. 

Major  Ringgold  had  both  legs  nearly  shot  away  by  a 
ball  which  passed  entirely  through  his  horse.  San 
guine  expectations  of  his  recovery  were  for  a  time  en- 
tertained.  But  they  were  not  to  be  realized,  and  on 
the  evening  of  the  llth  he  died  at  Point  Isabel,  mourned 
by  the  army  as  a  loss  to  the  service  and  the  country, 
not  easily  to  be  repaired. 

The  artillery  battalion  under  Colonel  Childs  was 
now  brought  up  to  support  the  artillery  on  the  right, 
\vhen  a  fierce  charge  was  made  upon  this  part  of  the 
line  by  a  strong  body  of  Mexican  cavalry,  which  con 
tinued  to  advance  in  spite  of  a  destructive  fire  from 
our  artillery.  The  battalion  was  formed  into  a  hollow 
square,  and  calmly  awaited  the  attack ;  but  a  severe 
discharge  of  canister  from  the  eighteen-pounders  threw 
them  into  confusion,  and  finally  dispersed  them.  A 
heavy  fire  of  musketry  was  in  the  meantime  opened 
upon  the  square,  wounding  Lieutenant  Luther  slightly, 
and  killing  and  severely  wounding  several  soldiers. 
Colonel  Childs,  however,  poured  in  upon  them  a  well- 
directed  discharge  from  his  guns,  wrhich  effectually  si 
lenced  the  enemy's  left.  But  another  effort  was  made 
by  Arista  to  turn  our  flank,  and  get  possession  of  our 
stores  in  the  rear.  This  movement  was  fortunately 
discovered  by  Captain  Duncan,  and  he  was  imme 
diately  ordered  to  hold  the  enemy  in  check  until  the 
eighth  infantry  could  come  to  his  assistance.  This  he 
accomplished  in  most  gallant  style,  opening  upon  them 
a  deadly  fire  before  they  were  aware  of  his  vicinity. 
Every  discharge  was  fearfully  destructive,  mowing 
down  \vhole  ranks  of  the  enemy.  They  could  not  long 
stand  under  this  murderous  fire,  though  they  continued 
to  advance  with  great  firmness  for  a  time.  They  were 
driven  back  in  confusion,  but  immediately  reformed 


MAJOR   RINGGOLD. 


THE    KILLED    AXD    WOUNDED.  133 

and  again  moved  forward,  and  were  again  driven  back 
in  hopeless  disorder,  and  commenced  a  precipitate  re 
treat,  throwing  all  into  confusion  who  had  yet  stood 
firm.  Thus  they  were  driven  from  the  field  and  com 
pelled  to  take  shelter  in  the  chapparal.  Night  now  put 
an  end  to  the  contest.  Thus  ended  the  battle  of  Palo 
Alto,  after  the  action  had  continued  for  nearly  five 
hours  with  almost  uninterrupted  fury.  When  it  was 
ended,  our  soldiers  sunk  down  wherever  they  chanced 
to  be,  wholly  exhausted  by  the  exertions  and  excite 
ment  of  the  day,  and  fell  asleep  with  nothing  but  the 
sky  above  them  and  the  earth  beneath.  The  dragoons, 
however,  kept  watch  all  night,  fearing  an  attempt 
would  be  made  to  surprise  them  by  the  enemy.  Too 
much  uncertainty  hung  over  the  future  to  allow  the 
officers  any  repose.  All  felt  that  the  morrow  would 
bring  forth  another  day  of  battle,  and  excitement,  and 
carnage,  and  that  the  Mexicans  would  make  another 
mighty  effort  to  crown  it  with  victory  to  their  arms. 
They  held  a  council  of  war,  however,  and  after  calmly 
considering  the  events  of  the  day  they  had  just  passed, 
and  the  probabilities  of  the  approaching  contest,  they 
unanimously  resolved  to  move  on  early  the  next  morn 
ing  and  give  the  enemy  battle  again,  if  they  should  be 
found  on  this  side  of  the  Rio  Grande. 

The  force  under  General  Taylor  in  this  hard  fought 
battle,  but  little  exceeded  two  thousand  men;  while 
the  Mexican  army  was,  at  least,  six  thousand  strong, 
or  about  three  to  one  against  the  Americans.  Our 
loss  in  the  engagement,  was  four  men  killed,  and  three 
officers,  and  thirty-seven  wounded — several  of  the  lat 
ter  mortally.  The  loss  of  the  Mexicans  was  two  hun 
dred  killed  and  about  four  hundred  wounded,  besides 
the  missing  and  desertions.  It  is  believed,  however, 


134  TAYLOR'S  OFFICIAL  ACCOUNT. 

that  their  loss  in  killed,  wounded,  and  missing,  was  but 
little  short  of  one  thousand  men. 

"  Our  march,"  says  General  Taylor,  in  his  official  dis 
patch,  "  was  resumed  the  following  morning.  About 
noon,  when  our  advance  of  cavalry  had  reached  the 
water-hole  of  'Palo  Alto,'  the  Mexican  troops  were 
reported  in  our  front,  and  were  soon  discovered  occu 
pying  the  road  in  force.  I  ordered  a  halt  upon  reach 
ing  the  water,  with  a  view  to  rest  and  refresh  the  men, 
and  to  form  deliberately  our  line  of  battle.  The  Mex 
ican  line  was  now  plainly  visible  across  the  prairie,  and 
about  three  quarters  of  a  mile  distant.  Their  left, 
which  was  composed  of  a  heavy  force  of  cavalry,  oc 
cupied  the  road,  resting  upon  a  thicket  of  chapparal, 
while  masses  of  infantry  w^ere  discovered  in  succession 
on  the  right,  greatly  outnumbering  our  own  force. 

"  Our  line  of  battle  was  now  formed  in  the  following 
order,  commencing  on  the  extreme  right: — 5th  in 
fantry,  commanded  by  Lieutenant-Colonel  Mclntosh ; 
Major  Ringgold's  artillery;  3rd  infantry,  commanded 
by  Captain  L.  N.  Morris  ;  two  eighteen-pounders,  com 
manded  by  Lieutenant  Churchill,  3rd  artillery ;  4th  in 
fantry,  commanded  by  Major  G.  W.  Allen ;  the  3rd  and 
4th  regiments  composed  the  Third  brigade,  under  com 
mand  of  Lieutenant-Colonel  Garland ;  and  all  the  above 
corps,  together  with  two  squadrons  of  dragoons  under 
Captains  Ker  and  May,  composed  the  right  wing,  un 
der  the  orders  of  Col.  Twiggs.  The  left  was  formed 
by  the  battalion  of  artillery  commanded  by  Lieutenant- 
Colonel  Childs,  Captain  Duncan's  light  artillery,  and 
the  8th  infantry,  under  Captain  Montgomery — all  form 
ing  the  First  brigade,  under  command  of  Lieutenant- 
Colonel  Belknap.  The  train  was  parked  near  the  wa- 


TAYLOR'S  OFFICIAL  ACCOUNT.  135 

ter,  under  direction  of  Captains  Grossman  and  Myers, 
and  protected  by  Captain  Ker's  squadron. 

"At  two  o'clock  we  took  up  the  march  by  heads  of 
columns,  in  the  direction  of  the  enemy — the  eighteen 
pounder  battery  following  the  road.  While  the  columns 
were  advancing,  Lieutenant  Blake,  topographical  engi 
neer,  volunteered  a  reconnoissance  of  the  enemy's  line, 
which  was  handsomely  performed,  and  resulted  in  the 
discovery  of  at  least  two  batteries  of  artillery  in  the 
intervals  of  their  cavalry  and  infantry.  These  batteries 
were  soon  opened  upon  us,  when  I  ordered  the  columns 
halted  and  deployed  into  line,  and  the  fire  to  be  re 
turned  by  all  our  artillery.  The  8th  infantry,  on  our 
extreme  left,  was  thrown  back  to  secure  that  flank. 
The  first  fires  of  c  .e  enemy  did  little  execution,  while 
our  eighteen-pounders  and  Major  Ringgold's  artillery 
soon  dispersed  the  cavalry  which  formed  his  left.  Cap 
tain  Duncan's  battery,  thrown  forward  in  advance  of 
the  line,  was  doing  good  execution  at  this  time.  Cap 
tain  May's  squadron  was  now  detached  to  support 
that  battery,  and  the  left  of  our  position.  The  Mexi 
can  cavalry,  with  two  pieces  of  artillery,  were  now  re 
ported  to  be  moving  through  the  chapparal  to  our  right, 
to  threaten  that  flank,  or  make  a  demonstration  against 
the  train.  The  5th  infantry  was  immediately  detached 
to  check  this  movement,  and  supported  by  Lieutenant 
Ridgeley,  with  a  section  of  Major  Ringgold's  battery 
and  Captain  Walker's  company  of  volunteers,  effectu 
ally  repulsed  the  enemy — the  5th  infantry  repelling  a 
charge  of  lancers,  and  the  artillery  doing  great  execu 
tion  in  their  ranks.  The  3rd  infantry  was  now  de 
tached  to  the  right  as  a  still  further  security  to  that 
flank,  yet  threatened  by  the  enemy.  Major  Ringgold, 
with  the  remaining  section,  kept  up  his  fire  from  an 


136  TAYLOR'S  OFFICIAL  ACCOUNT. 

advanced  position,  and  was  supported  by  the  4th  in 
fantry. 

"  The  grass  of  the  prairie  had  been  accidentally  fired 
by  our  artillery,  and  the  volumes  of  smoke  now  par 
tially  concealed  the  armies  from  each  other.  As  the 
enemy's  left  had  evidently  been  driven  back  and  left 
the  road  free,  the  cannonade  having  been  suspended,  I 
ordered  forward  the  eighteen-pounders  on  the  road 
nearly  to  the  position  first  occupied  by  the  Mexican 
cavalry,  and  caused  the  First  brigade  to  take  up  a  new 
position  still  on  the  left  of  the  eighteen-pounder  battery. 
The  5th  was  advanced  from  its  former  position  and 
occupied  a  point  on  the  extreme  right  of  the  new  line. 
The  enemy  made  a  change  of  position  corresponding 
to  our  own,  and  after  a  suspension  A  nearly  an  hour 
the  action  was  resumed. 

"  The  fire  of  artillery  was  now  most  destructive — 
openings  were  constantly  made  through  the  enemy's 
ranks  by  our  fire,  and  the  constancy  with  which  the 
Mexican  infantry  sustained  this  severe  cannonade  was 
a  theme  of  universal  remark  and  admiration.  Captain 
May's  squadron  was  detached  to  make  a  demonstration 
on  the  left  of  the  enemy's  position,  and  suffered  severely 
from  the  fire  of  artillery  to  which  it  was  for  some  time 
exposed.  The  4th  infantry,  which  had  been  ordered  to 
support  the  eighteen-pounder  battery,  was  exposed  to 
a  most  galling  fire  of  artillery,  by  which  several  men 
wrere  killed  and  Captain  Page  dangerously  wounded. 
The  enemy's  fire  wras  directed  against  our  eighteen- 
pounder  battery,  and  the  guns  under  Major  Ringgold 
in  its  vicinity.  The  Major  himself,  while  coolly  direct 
ing  the  fire  of  his  pieces,  was  struck  by  a  cannon  ball 
and  mortally  wounded. 

"In  the  meantime  the  battalion  of  artillery  under 


CAPTAIN   WALKER. 


10 


TAYLOR'S  OFFICIAL  ACCOUXT.  137 

Lieutenant-Colonel  Childs,  had  been  brought  up  to  sup 
port  the  artillery  on  our  right.  A  strong  demonstration 
of  cavalry  was  now  made  by  the  enemy  against  this 
part  of  our  line,  and  the  column  continued  to  advance 
under  a  severe  fire  from  the  eighteen-pounders.  The 
battalion  was  instantly  formed  in  square,  and  held  ready 
to  receive  the  charge  of  cavalry,  but  when  the  advan 
cing  squadrons  were  within  close  range,  a  deadly  fire 
of  canister  from  the  eighteen-pounders  dispersed  them. 
A  brisk  fire  of  small-arms  was  now  opened  upon  the 
square,  by  which  one  officer,  Lieutenant  Luther,  2nd 
artillery,  was  slightly  wounded,  but  a  well-directed  vol 
ley  from  the  front  of  the  square  silenced  all  further  firing 
from  the  enemy  in  this  quarter.  It  was  now  nearly 
dark,  and  the  action  was  closed  on  the  right  of  our  line, 
the  enemy  having  been  completely  driven  back  from 
his  position,  and  foiled  in  every  attempt  against  our  line. 

"  While  the  above  was  going  forward  on  our  right, 
and  under  my  own  eye,  the  enemy  had  made  a  serious 
attempt  against  the  left  of  our  line.  Captain  Duncan 
instantly  perceived  the  movement,  and  by  the  bold  and 
brilliant  manoeuvring  of  his  battery,  completely  re 
pulsed  several  successive  efforts  of  the  enemy  to  ad 
vance  in  force  upon  our  left  flank.  Supported  in  suc 
cession  by  the  8th  infantry  and  Captain  Ker's  squad 
ron  of  dragoons,  he  gallantly  held  the  enemy  at  bay, 
and  finally  drove  him,  with  immense  loss,  from  the  field. 
The  action  here  and  along  the  whole  line,  continued 
until  dark,  when  the  enemy  retired  into  the  chapparal 
in  rear  of  his  position.  Our  army  bivouacked  on  the 
ground  it  occupied.  During  the  afternoon  the  train 
had  been  moved  forward  about  half  a  mile,  and  was 
parked  in  rear  of  the  new  position." 

General  Arista,  in  his  official  report  of  the  battle,  ex- 


138  MEXICAN    OFFICIAL    ACCOUNT. 

ercises  the  usual  ingenuity  of  Mexican  generals,  in 
turning  a  disastrous  defeat  into  a  brilliant  and  decisive 
victory.  The  tone  of  his  dispatch  affords  a  remarka 
ble  contrast  to  the  modest  and  unassuming  account  of 
the  same  battle  by  General  Taylor.  In  his  dispatch 
the  Mexican  commander  says  :  "  Constant  in  my  pur 
pose  of  preventing  General  Taylor  from  uniting  the 
forces  which  he  brought  from  the  Fronton  of  Sante 
Isabel,  with  those  which  he  left  fortified  opposite  Mat- 
amoras,  I  moved  this  day  from  the  Fanques  del  Rami- 
nero,  whence  I  dispatched  my  last  extraordinary  cou 
rier,  and  took  the  direction  of  Palo  Alto,  as  soon  as  my 
spies  informed  me  that  the  enemy  had  left  Fronton, 
with  the  determination  of  introducing  into  his  fort 
wagons  loaded  with  provisions  and  heavy  artillery. 

"  I  arrived  opposite  Palo  Alto  about  one  o'clock,  and 
observed  that  the  enemy  was  entering  that  position. 

"  With  all  my  forces,  I  established  the  line  of  battle 
in  a  great  plain,  my  right  resting  upon  an  elevation, 
and  my  left  on  a  slough  of  difficult  passage. 

"  Scarcely  was  the  first  camion  fired,  when  there  ar 
rived  General  D.  Pedro  de  Ampudia,  second  in  com 
mand,  whom  I  had  ordered  to  join  me  after  having 
covered  the  points  which  might  serve  to  besiege  the 
enemy  in  the  forts  opposite  Matamoras. 

"  The  forces  under  my  orders  amounted  to  three 
thousand  men,  and  twelve  pieces  of  artillery  ;  those  of 
the  invaders  were  three  thousand,  rather  less  than 
more,  and  were  superior  in  artillery,  since  they  had 
twenty  pieces  of  the  calibre  of  sixteen  and  eighteen 
pounds. 

"  The  battle  commenced  so  ardently,  that  the  fire  of 
cannon  did  not  cease  a  single  moment.  In  the  course 
of  it,  the  enemy  wished  to  follow  the  road  to  Matamo- 


MEXICAN    OFFICIAL    ACCOUNT  139 

ras,  to  raise  the  siege  of  his  troops  ;  with  which  object 
he  fired  the  grass,  and  formed  in  front  of  his  line  of 
battle  a  smoke  so  thick,  that  he  succeeded  in  covering 
himself  from  our  view,  but  by  means  of  manoeuvres 
this  was  twice  embarrassed. 

"  General  Taylor  maintained  his  attack  rather  de 
fensively  than  offensively,  employing  his  best  arm, 
which  is  artillery,  protected  by  half  of  the  infantry, 
and  all  of  his  cavalry, — keeping  the  remainder  fortified 
in  the  ravine,  about  two  thousand  yards  from  the  field 
of  battle. 

"  I  was  anxious  for  the  charge,  because  the  fire  of 
cannon  did  much  damage  in  our  ranks,  and  I  instructed 
General  D.  Anastasio  Torrejon  to  execute  it  with  the 
greater  part  of  the  cavalry,  by  our  left  flank,  with  some 
columns  of  infantry,  and  the  remainder  of  the  cavalry. 

"  I  was  waiting  the  moment  when  that  general  should 
execute  the  charge,  and  the  effect  of  it  should  begin  to 
be  seen,  in  order  to  give  the  impulse  on  the  right ;  but 
he  was  checked  by  a  fire  of  the  enemy,  which  defended 
a  slouch  that  embarrassed  the  attack. 

o 

"  Some  battalions,  becoming  impatient  by  the  loss 
they  suffered,  fell  into  disorder,  demanding  to  ad 
vance  or  fall  back.  I  immediately  caused  them  to 
charge  with  a  column  of  cavalry,  under  the  command 
of  Colonel  D.  Cayetano  Montero ;  the  result  of  this 
operation  being  that  the  dispersed  corps  repaired  their 
fault  as  far  as  possible,  marching  towards  the  enemy, 
who,  in  consequence  of  his  distance,  was  enabled  to  fall 
back  upon  his  reserve,  and  night  coming  on,  the  bat 
tle  was  concluded, — the  field  remaining  for  our  arms. 

"  Every  suitable  measure  was  then  adopted,  and 
the  division  took  up  a  more  concentrated  curve  in  the 
same  scene  of  action. 


140  MEXICAN    OFFICIAL    ACCOUNT. 

"  The  combat  was  long  and  bloody,  which  may  be 
estimated  from  the  calculations  made  by  the  com 
mandant  general  of  artillery,  General  D.  Thomas  Re- 
quena,  who  assures  me  that  the  enemy  threw  about 
three  thousand  cannon  shots  from  two  in  the  afternoon, 
when  the  battle  commenced,  until  seven  at  night,  when 
it  terminated, — six  hundred  and  fifty  being  fired  on  our 
side. 

"  The  national  arms  shone  forth,  since  they  did  not 
yield  a  hand's  breadth  of  ground,  notwithstanding  the 
superiority  in  artillery  of  the  enemy,  who  suffered  much 
damage. 

"  Our  troops  have  to  lament  the  loss  of  two  hundred 
and  fifty-two  men  dispersed,  wounded  and  killed, — the 
last  worthy  of  national  recollection  and  gratitude  for 
the  intrepidity  with  which  they  died  fighting  for  the 
most  sacred  of  causes. 

"  Will  your  excellency  please  with  his  note  to  report 
to  his  excellency  the  President,  representing  to  him 
that  I  will  take  care  to  give  a  circumstantial  account 
of  this  deed  of  arms ;  and  recommending  to  him  the 
good  conduct  of  all  the  generals,  chiefs,  officers,  and 
soldiers  under  my  orders,  for  sustaining  so  bloody  a 
combat,  which  does  honor  to  our  arms,  and  exhibits 
their  discipline." 


CHAPTER  V. 

Resaca  de  la  Palma. — The  Battle  Commenced. — Character  of  the  Mex 
ican  Troops.— May's  Charge.— Capture  of  La  Vega.— The  Americana 
Victorious. — Lieutenant  Lincoln's  Heroic  Conduct. — Incidents  of  the 
Engagement. — A  Brave  Corporal. — Colonel  Mclntosh. — Mexican  con 
fidence  of  Victory. —  Taylor's  Official  Account. — Particulars  of  May's 
Charge.— Notice  of  the  Battle. 

EARLY  on  the  morning  of  the  9th  the  enemy  com 
menced  their  retreat  from  Palo  Alto,  towards  Fort 
Brown,  the  cavalry  being  the  last  to  leave  the  ground. 
They  continued  to  fall  back  upon  that  post  until  they 
advanced  several  miles,  to  Resaca  de  la  Palma,  a  po 
sition  naturally  very  strong.  At  this  point  they  had 
thrown  up  intrenchments  and  erected  three  batteries, 
so  as  completely  to  command  the  approach  to  Fort 
Brown.  The  road  at  the  place  w^here  they  had  planted 
their  batteries,  crosses  at  right  angles  a  ravine,  which 
is  about  four  rods  wide,  and  four  or  five  feet  deep. 
The  lowest  part  of  it  is  usually  filled  with  water,  and 
in  a  \vet  season  it  forms  a  stagnant  pond,  which  unites 
across  the  ridge  forming  the  road,  over  which  the  Ame 
rican  army  had  to  pass.  On  the  side  of  the  ravine 
occupied  by  the  Mexicans  is  a  dense  growth  of  chappa- 
ral.  The  enemy  was  formed  in  double  line,  one  in  the 
ravine,  under  the  front  bank,  and  the  other  behind  the 
wall  of  chapparal.  They  were  seven  thousand  strong, 
having  been  reinforced  during  the  night,  and  strongly 
fortified,  and  skilfully  posted.  The  narrow  ridge  of 


142  GENERAL    TAYLOIl's    LINE    OF    BATTLE. 

road  through  the  ravine,  already  referred  to,  which 
formed  the  only  unobstructed  approach  to  them,  was 
perfectly  commanded  by  their  batteries. 

Soon  after  the  enemy  had  withdrawn,  General  Tay 
lor  formed  his  army  in  line  of  battle  and  commenced 
his  march.  He  moved  on  until  he  reached  the  edge  of 
the  chapparal,  where  he  halted,  and  ordered  several 
companies  to  advance  and  reconnoitre  the  enemy  and 
ascertain  their  position.  While  they  were  in  the  per 
formance  of  this  duty,  Lieutenant  J.  E.  Blake,  who 
had  been  on  duty  the  whole  of  the  night  previous,  and 
was  therefore  nearly  exhausted,  dismounted  for  the 
purpose  of  obtaining  a  few  moments  rest.  He  un 
buckled  his  holsters  and  threw  them  on  the  ground, 
when,  from  some  cause,  one  of  the  pistols  exploded,  the 
ball  entering  his  body,  and  producing  almost  immediate 
death. 

Captain  McCall,  who  had  command  of  the  recon- 
noitering  forces,  moved  on  until  he  reached  Resaca  de 
la  Palma,  when  he  was  suddenly  fired  upon  by  one  of 
the  Mexican  masked  batteries,  killing  one  of  his  men 
and  wounding  three  others.  General  Taylor,  upon 
receiving  a  message  acquainting  him  with  the  facts, 
immediately  ordered  Lieutenant  Ridgeley,  with  his 
battery,  and  the  Third,  Fourth,  and  Fifth  infantry  to 
engage  the  enemy's  infantry.  Captain  Smith  was 
ordered  to  the  right  and  Captain  McCall  to  the  left, 
with  instructions  to  bring  on  the  engagement.  Lieu 
tenant  Ridgeley  immediately  advanced,  and  when  he 
had  discovered  the  position  of  the  enemy's  batteries, 
he  charged  upon  them  at  full  speed,  quickly  followed 
by  the  Fifth  regiment  and  a  portion  of  the  Fourth,  the 
Third  and  remainder  of  the  Fourth  advancing  towards 
the  ravine  on  the  enemy's  left.  In  the  meantime  Cap- 


CHARACTER    OF    THE    MEXICAN    TROOPS.  143 

tain  McCall  had  gallantly  attacked  their  right.  The 
Eighth  regiment  was  also  now  ordered  to  enter  the 
engagement,  which  they  did  in  gallant  style,  at  double 
quick  time.  At  the  same  time  Lieutenant  Ridgeley 
was  hotly  pressed  by  the  enemy,  but  he  poured  in  upon 
them  such  an  overwhelming  shower  of  grape  and  can 
ister,  that  they  could  make  no  impression  upon  him. 
But  for  the  fact  of  the  enemy's  shots  going  nearly  all 
above  the  heads  of  his  men,  they  would  have  been 
literally  cut  to  pieces.  He  was  supported  by  the  Fifth 
regiment,  under  Lieutenant  Colonel  Mclntosh ;  the 
Third  regiment,  under  the  command  of  Captain  L.  N. 
Morris,  and  the  Fourth,  under  Major  Allen,  scattered  by 
the  dense  chapparal,  were  obliged  to  form  in  the  ravine. 
The  Eighth,  under  the  command  of  Captain  W.  R. 
Montgomery,  with  Smith's  Light  and  other  corps,  faced 
to  the  right.  Duncan's  battery  was  at  the  edge  of  the 
ravine,  but  he  could  not  use  it,  as  the  only  position  from 
which  he  enemy  conld  be  engaged,  without  galling  our 
troops,  was  in  possession  of  Ridgeley. 

The  enemy  fought  with  great  valor  and  almost  des- 
peratic  .1.  They  were  the  best  troops  in  Mexico  ;  all 
veterans  of  many  a  hard  contested  field  ;  and  they 
seemed  to  have  resolved  upon  victory  or  death.  The 
contest  in  the  ravine,  therefore,  was  long  and  bloody. 
The  Mexicans  contested  every  inch  of  ground,  with  a 
bravery  and  determination  that  only  the  valor  of  Ame 
rican  soldiers  could  have  overcome.  But  the  deadly 
discharge  of  artillery  and  musketry,  and  the  repeated 
charge  of  our  troops,  was  too  much  for  flesh  and  blood 
long  to  endure,,  and  they  now  began  to  waver,  and  at 
last  to  give  way.  They  were  finally  driven  from  the 
ravine,  and  our  troops  occupied  the  position  in  it  held 
by  them  at  the  beginning  of  the  action.  The  infantry 


144  DRIVEN  FROM  THE  RAVINE. 

had  captured  one  of  their  guns,  and  they  frequently 
attempted  to  charge  across  the  ravine,  in  the  mean 
while  keeping  up  upon  our  front  ranks  a  murderous 
fire  of  artillery.  But  it  was  of  no  avail  against  the 
discipline  and  firmness  of  our  gallant  troops.  They 
were  equally  resolved  on  victory,  and  had  never  con 
templated  any  other  result  of  the  contest. 

The  enemy  still  retaining  their  strongest  positions, 
General  Taylor  saw  that  they  must  be  dislodged,  and 
the  batteries  taken.  He  therefore  gave  orders  to  Cap 
tain  May  to  take  them  at  all  events.  May  replied,  "  I 
will  do  it,  sir,"  and  immediately  placing  himself  at  the 
head  of  his  dragoons,  said,  "men,  follow  me!"  and 
dashed  forward  with  lightning  speed,  his  command 
rapidly  upon  his  heels.  As  he  was  rushing  on,  he  was 
stopped  by  the  brave  Ridgeley,  who  said  to  him, 
"wait,  Charley,  until  I  draw  their  fire,"  and  at  the 
same  instant  discharged  his  batteries  upon  the  enemy. 
The  discharge  of  their  guns  was  almost  simultaneously 
with  Ridgeley 's.  By  this  great  presence  of  mind,  and 
noble-hearted  magnanimity,  he  saved  May  from  a  fire 
that  must  have  made  dreadful  slaughter  amongst  his 
men,  and  drew  the  fire  upon  himself.  There  are  but 
few  instances  of  equal  bravery  and  magnanimity  on 
record.  The  instant  Ridgeley  had  thus  drawn  upon 
himself  the  fire  of  the  Mexican  battery,  May  again 
dashed  on  in  advance  of  his  command,  in  spite  of  a 
most  destructive  fire,  and  cleared  the  enemy's  works 
at  a  bound,  cutting  down  the  gunners  at  their  pieces. 
He  was  gallantly  supported  by  his  men,  and  the  Mexi 
cans  were  driven  from  their  guns  by  their  furious 
charge.  They  immediately  rallied,  however,  and  again 
got  possession  of  them,  May's  command  having  scat 
tered  amongst  the  enemy.  But  he  collected  several  of 


COLONEL  MAY 


MAY'S  CHARGE.  145 

them,  and  again  charged  the  enemy.  In  this  charge 
he  captured  General  La  Vega,  while  bravely  fighting 
at  the  guns.  He  immediately  surrendered  to  Captain 
May,  and  was  carried  to  our  lines  in  charge  of  Lieu 
tenant  Stevens. 

But  though  the  battery  had  been  silenced  for  the 
time,  it  was  not  captured.  The  enemy  re-manned 
their  guns,  and  were  preparing  to  pour  their  deadly 
fire  again  into  our  ranks.  But  the  Fifth  regiment, 
which  had  followed  closely  upon  the  heels  of  the  dra 
goons,  now  approached  the  battery,  and  charged  the 
enemy  up  to  the  very  cannon's  mouth,  the  enemy  and 
our  soldiers  contending  hand  to  hand  for  the  posses 
sion  of  the  works.  The  struggle  was  a  fierce  and 
bloody  one,  but  the  enemy  were  cut  down  at  their 
guns,  or  compelled  to  fly,  and  the  battery  was  left  in 
possession  of  the  Americans. 

The  enemy  having  thus  been  driven  from  their  bat 
teries,  the  Eighth  regiment  under  Captain  Montgomery, 
and  the  Fifth  under  Lieutenant-Colonel  Mclntosh, 
charged  the  Mexicans  up  the  ravine,  amidst  a  destruc 
tive  fire  from  their  right  and  front.  Though  vastly 
superior  in  numbers,  the  enemy  were  compelled  to  re 
treat  after  great  slaughter,  and  were  ultimately  driven 
from  the  field.  The  battle  was  now  nearly  ended,  and 
the  victory  won.  In  every  part  of  the  field  where  the 
contending  parties  met,  the  enemy  were  defeated. 
Whether  they  were  only  equal  in  numbers  to  the 
Americans,  or  four  to  one,  made  no  difference — the  re 
sult  was  the  same.  On  all  sides  they  were  compelled 
to  give  way  before  the  superior  discipline,  courage,  and 
physical  strength  of  our  troops. 

The  further  details  of  the  action  are  supplied  from 
"  Our  Army  on  the  Rio  Grande,"  the  most  minute  and 


146  LIEUTENANT    LINCOLN'S    HEROISM. 

interesting  account  of  General  Taylors's  operations 
from  the  time  he  entered  Texas  to  the  capture  of  Mat- 
amoras,  that  has  been  published.  During  the  progress 
of  the  action,  Lieutenant  Lincoln,  of  the  Eighth  regi 
ment,  made  a  charge  on  a  body  of  Mexicans  lodged  in 
a  thicket  of  chapparal,  who  were  pouring  a  destructive 
fire  upon  his  regiment  as  it  advanced  up  the  road.  In 
the  midst  of  the  conflict,  he  saw  Lieutenant  Jordan, 
(who  had  personally  charged  the  enemy,)  wounded 
upon  the  ground,  with  a  Mexican  over  him,  in  the  act 
of  running  a  bayonet  through  his  body  ;  Lincoln  sprang 
forward,  and  the  Mexican  faltering,  in  alarm,  ran  his 
bayonet  through  the  arm,  instead  of  the  breast  of  Jor 
dan.  At  the  same  instant,  Lincoln  cleft  his  skull. 
This  gallant  officer,  with  his  sergeant,  engaged  in  a 
conflict  with  others  of  the  enemy,  causing  them  to  re 
treat,  after  having  slain  three  of  them  with  their  own 
hands.  Lieutenant  Chadbourne,  also  of  the  Eighth, 
after  distinguishing  himself  for  his  bravery,  in  one  of 
these  skirmishes  fell  mortally  wounded,  at  the  head  of 
his  command. 

The  third  regiment,  under  the  command  of  Captain 
L.  N.  Morris,  and  the  Fourth,  under  Major  Allen, 
were  conspicuous  for  the  spirit  with  which  they  en 
tered  the  contest.  These  two  corps  gallantly  rivalled 
each  other  in  sharing  the  brilliant  events  of  the  day. 
They  fearlessly  charged  through  the  densest  chappa 
ral  ;  and  while  Captain  Morris,  and  the  other  officers 
of  the  Third,  were  overcoming  what  appeared  to  be 
insurmountable  difficulties;  to  meet  the  enemy,  the 
Fourth  came  into  the  ravine,  opposite  an  intrenchment 
supported  by  a  piece  of  artillery,  that  poured  a  most 
galling  fire  into  our  ranks.  Captain  Buchanan,  being 
senior  officer  nearest  the  point,  collected  some  twenty- 


INCIDENTS    OF    TUB    BATTLE.  147 

five  or  thirty  men,  and  with  Lieutenant  Hays  and 
Woods  charged  across  the  lagoon,  knee  and  waist  deep 
in  water,  and  after  a  close-quarter  conflict,  routed  the 
enemy.  Lieutenant  Hays  distinguished  himself  by 
springing  forward  and  seizing  the  leading  mules  at 
tached  to  the  piece,  to  prevent  its  being  driven  off, 
while  Lieutenant  Woods  sprang  to  the  handspikes,  and 
turned  it  in  such  a  direction  as  to  lock  one  of  the 
wheels  against  a  tree.  A  large  force  of  the  enemy's 
cavalry  suddenly  charged  upon  these  officers,  but  Cap 
tain  Barbour,  of  the  third,  came  to  the  rescue,  and  with 
the  point  of  the  bayonet  drove  off  the  cavalry.  Cor 
poral  Chisholm,  of  the  Third  infantry,  shot  the  Mexi 
can  lieutenant-colonel  who  led  the  charge.  As  the 
officer  fell,  the  corporal  was  seen  to  hand  him  his  can 
teen  of  water,  and  but  a  moment  afterwards  Chisholm 
was  lying  dead  on  his  back,  with  a  cartridge  in  his 
hand,  and  the  bitten-off  end  resting  on  his  lips. 

Buchanan's  party,  along  \vith  portions  of  the  Fifth 
regiment,  then  charged  on  the  Mexican  lines.  In  the 
excitement,  Lieutenant-Colonel  Mclntosh  dashed  on  a 
wall  of  chapparal,  although  it  was  lined  with  infantry 
and  cavalry.  Under  a  galling  fire  he  broke  it  down 
by  repeated  blows  of  his  sword,  and  the  weight  of 
his  horse.  The  instant  he  got  through,  his  horse  fell 
dead  from  under  him  ;  Colonel  Mclntosh  sprang  to  his 
feet  ;  a  crowd  of  Mexicans,  armed  with  muskets  and 
lances,  rushed  upon  him ;  still  he  gallantly  defended 
himself.  A  bayonet  passed  through  his  mouth  and 
came  out  belo\v  his  ear ;  seizing  the  weapon,  he  raised 
his  sword  to  cut  the  fiend  down  who  held  it,  when  an 
other  bayonet  passed  through  and  terribly  shattered  his 
arm,  and  another  still,  through  his  hip  ;  borne  do\vn  by 
superiority  of  force,  he  fell,  and  wras  literally  pinned  to 


148  FALL    OF    COLONEL    JVl'lNTOSH. 

the  earth.  The  command  of  the  Fifth  now  devolved 
upon  Major  Stamford,  who  conducted  it  with  zed  and 
ability  to  the  close  of  the  engagement. 

After  the  first  charge  on  the  enemy's  lines  had  been 
made,  Ridgeley  was  obliged  to  suspend  his  fire  for  fear 
of  galling  his  own  troops.  Duncan's  battery  had  been 
idle,  for  want  of  a  position  to  act  with  any  effect.  Both 
batteries  were  now  ordered  across  the  ravine,  supported 
by  Captain  C.  F.  Smith's  light  infantry,  and  Captain 
Ivor's  squadron  of  dragoons.  Lieutenant  Duncan 
came  up  ahead  with  his  battery,  when  the  Fifth  was 
engaged  with  the  enemy,  under  a  heavy  fire  from  the 
opposite  side  of  the  lagoon  that  crossed  the  road.  Here 
he  met  Colonel  Mclntosh,  and  requested  of  him  a 
party  to  support  him,  while  he  crossed  the  lagoon,  and 
forced  the  enemy  from  their  strong  position.  In  the 
hurry  of  the  moment  Lieutenant  Duncan  did  not  per 
ceive  that  Colonel  Mclntosh  was  wounded.  The  Col 
onel  turned  to  Lieutenant  Duncan,  presenting  a  most 
terrible  sight.  The  blood  from  some  of  his  numerous 
wounds  had  clotted  on  his  face,  and  he  answered  with 
difficulty,  "  I  will  give  you  the  support  you  need." 
Lieutenant  Duncan  perceiving  his  situation,  asked, 
with  some  emotion,  "  if  he  could  be  of  any  service  to 
him  ?"  Colonel  Mclntosh  replied  :  "  Yes  !  give  me 
some  water,  and  sho\v  me  my  regiment." 

Lieutenants  Woods  and  Hays,  with  a  portion  of  the 
Fourth,  pressed  on,  and  came  up  with  Leutenants 
Cochrane  and  Augur,  with  a  few  men  of  every  regi 
ment,  when,  to  their  surprise,  they  found  themselves  in 
the  head-quarters  of  General  Arista.  After  taking  pos 
session  of  it,  the  party  still  kept  up  the  road,  until  re 
connoitred  by  a  Mexican  officer,  who  was  seen  riding 
very  close.  He  was  saluted  with  a  discharge  of  mus- 


A    BRAVE    MEXICAN.  149 

ketry,  but  he  escaped  unharmed.  Again  he  was  seen 
moving  towards  our  party,  and  again  he  was  fired  upon, 
and  again  escaped.  Undauntedly  he  moved  on,  held 
his  ground,  and  received  a  volley  of  musketry,  and 
most  singularly  he  remained  upon  his  horse,  and  rode 
off.  A  moment  only  elapsed,  when  he  returned  with  a 
squadron  of  lancers,  charging  like  a  whirlwind ;  our  sol 
diers  delivered  their  fire  steadily,  bringing  one  or  two  to 
the  ground,  and  then  fell  back  into  the  chapparal.  Lieu 
tenant  Cochrane  remained  in  the  open  space,  and  re 
ceived  the  whole  charge ;  he  nobly  defended  himself 
with  his  sword,  but  was  crushed  down,  falling  dead 
with  seven  lance  wrounds  in  his  breast. 

All  order  of  battle  was  now  lost,  yet  the  enemy, 
driven  from  their  intrenchments,  and  without  artillery, 
and  with  their  camp  in  our  possession,  still  chivalrously, 
but  unsuccessfully,  disputed  the  onward  march  of  our 
troops. 

The  last  Mexican  flag  that  waved  over  the  field  had 
struck,  the  tri-color  of  the  Tampico  veterans,  that  had 
so  gallantly  show^n  itself  on  the  Palo  Alto,  where  it  was 
torn  by  our  artillery,  and  had  been  defended  on  the 
Resaca  de  la  Palma,  until  the  regiment  to  which  it  had 
belonged  was  literally  destroyed,  was  torn  from  its  staff 
by  the  gallant  spirit  that  bore  it ;  concealing  it  about 
his  person,  when  all  hope  was  lost,  he  attempted  to  flee 
to  his  countrymen  on  the  east  of  the  Rio  Grande.  The 
poor  standard-bearer,  however,  did  not  escape ;  rode 
down  by  our  dragoons,  he,  with  others,  was  taken  pris 
oner,  and  the  flag  of  the  Battalion  Tampico,  hangs  a 
trophy  in  our  national  capitol. 

Both  Duncan's  and  Ridgeley's  batteries  were  opened 
on  the  retreating  enemy,  driving  them  from  their  last 
holds,  and  completely  routing  those  who  still  lingered. 


11 


150  MEXICAN    CONFIDENCE    OF    VICTORY. 

Cavalry  and  infantry  were  seen  in  confused  masses, 
flying  in  every  direction ;  many  rushing  towards  the 
Rio  Grande. 

The  camp  of  Arista  told  the  perfect  confidence  he 
had  in  the  strength  of  his  arms.  It  was  evideat  that 
not  the  least  preparation  had  been  made  for  a  defeat — 
no  such  thought  had  ever  been  indulged  in.  Arista 
brought  with  him  into  the  field  an  unnecessary  amount 
of  baggage.  His  head-quarters  were  just  being  ar 
ranged  ;  his  splendid  marquee,  his  trunks,  and  private 
property  were  together,  surrounded  by  pompously  ar 
ranged  walls,  comprising  the  military  wealth  of  the 
army.  There  were  stands  of  small-arms,  a  ^munition 
boxes,  hundreds  and  thousands  of  musket  ball  cartridges, 
and  nearly  five  hundred  splendid  pack-saddles  ;  in  short, 
almost  an  eastern  prodigality  of  military  equipage. 

In  the  camp  of  the  army  were  found  the  prepu  rations 
for  a  great  festival,  no  doubt  to  follow  the  expected  vic 
tory.  The  camp-kettles  were  simmering  over  the 
fires,  filled  with  savory  viands,  from  which  our  troops 
made  a  plentiful  evening  meal.  In  the  road  were  car 
casses  of  half-skinned  oxen.  The  hangers-on  of  the 
camp,  while  the  battle  was  raging,  were  busy  in  their 
feast-preparing  work,  unconscious  of  danger,  when,  on 
an  instant,  a  sudden  panic  must  have  seized  them,  and 
they  fled,  leaving  their  half-completed  labors  to  be  con 
summated  by  our  own  troops.  Never,  probably,  in  the 
history  of  war,  had  a  more  perfect  consternation  seized 
upon  a  defeated  army,  and  seldom  has  one  left  such 
singularly  eloquent  memorials  of  the  fact,  as  did  the 
Mexicans  at  Resaca  de  la  Palma. 

The  detailed  report  of  this  brilliant  action,  so  glori 
ous  to  the  American  arms,  and  reflecting  so  much  honor 
upon  our  gallant  army,  is  given  below.  However 


TAYLOR'S  OFFICIAL  ACCOUNT.  151 

minutely  and  correctly  it  may  have  been  described,  the 
account  would  be  imperfect  without  the  report  of  the 
commanding  officer.  General  Taylor  seems  to  be 
everywhere  and  to  see  everything,  and  is  therefore  bet 
ter  prepared  to  give  perfectly  all  the  particulars  of  the 
engagement.  He  does  it  in  this  instance,  as  in  all  oth 
ers,  with  that  rare  combination  of  modesty  and  good 
sense,  and  it  is  marked  by  the  same  beauty  and  ele 
gance  of  style,  and  clearness  and  perspicuity  of  expres 
sion,  that  have  distinguished  all  his  dispatches : 

"  Early  on  the  morning  of  the  9th  instant,  the  enemy 
who  had  encamped  near  the  field  of  battle  of  the  day 
previous,  was  discovered  moving  by  his  left  flank,  evi 
dently  in  retreat ;  and  perhaps  at  the  same  time  to  gain 
a  new  position  on  the  road  to  Matamoras,  and  there 
again  resist  our  advance. 

"  I  ordered  the  supply  train  to  be  strongly  parked  at 
its  position,  and  left  with  it  four  pieces  of  artillery — the 
two  eighteen-pounders  which  had  done  such  good  ser 
vice  on  the  previous  day — and  two  twelve-pounders 
which  had  not  been  in  the  action.  The  wounded  offi 
cers  and  men  were  at  the  same  time  sent  back  to  Point 
Isabel.  I  then  moved  forward  with  the  columns  to  the 
edge  of  the  chapparal  or  forest,  wrhich  extends  to  the 
Rio  Grande,  a  distance  of  seven  miles.  The  light  com 
panies  of  the  first  brigade,  under  Captain  C.  F.  Smith, 
2d  artillery,  and  a  select  detachment  .of  light  troops,  the 
whole  under  the  the  command  of  Captain  McCall,  4th 
infantry,  were  thrown  forward  into  the  chapparal,  to 
feel  the  enemy  and  ascertain  his  position.  About  three 
o'clock,  I  received  a  report  from  the  advance,  that  the 
enemy  was  in  position  on  the  road,  with  at  least  two 
pieces  of  artillery.  The  command  was  immediately 
put  in  motion,  and  at  about  four  o'clock  I  came  up 


152  CAPTURE    OF    LA    VEGA. 

with  Captain  McCall,  who  reported  the  enemy  in  force 
in  our  front,  occupying  a  ravine  which  intersects  the 
road  and  is  skirted  by  thickets  of  dense  chapparal. 
Ridgeley's  battery  and  the  advance  under  Captain  Mc 
Call  were  at  once  thrown  forward  on  the  road,  and  into 
the  chapparal  on  either  side,  while  the  5th  infantry  and 
one  wing  of  the  4th  were  thrown  into  the  forest  on  the 
left,  and  the  3d  and  the  other  wing  of  the  4th,  on  the 
right  of  the  road.  These  corps  were  employed  as  skir 
mishers  to  cover  the  battery  and  engage  the  Mexican 
infantry.  Captain  McCaLTs  command  became  at  once 
engaged  with  the  enemy,  while  the  light  artillery,  though 
in  a  very  exposed  position,  did  great  execution.  The 
enemy  had  at  least  eight  pieces  of  artillery,  and  main 
tained  an  incessant  fire  upon  our  advance. 

"  The  action  now  became  general,  and  although  the 
enemy's  infantry  gave  way  before  the  steady  fire  and 
resistless  progress  of  our  own,  yet  his  artillery  was  still 
in  position  to  check  our  advance — several  pieces  occu 
pying  the  pass  across  the  ravine,  which  he  had  chosen 
for  his  position.  Perceiving  that  no  decisive  advan 
tage  could  be  gained  until  this  artillery  was  silenced,  I 
ordered  Captain  May  to  charge  the  batteries  with  his 
squadron  of  dragoons.  This  was  gallantly  and  effectu 
ally  executed :  the  enemy  was  driven  from  his  guns, 
and  Gen.  La  Vega,  who  remained  alone  at  one  of  the 
batteries,  was  taken  prisoner.  The  squadron,  which 
suffered  much  in  this  charge,  not  being  immediately 
supported  by  infantry,  could  not  retain  possession  of 
the  artillery  taken,  but  it  was  completely  silenced.  In 
the  meantime,  the  Eighth  infantry  had  been  ordered  up, 
and  had  become  warmly  engaged  on  the  right  of  the 
road.  This  regiment  and  a  part  of  the  Fifth,  were  now 
ordered  to  charge  the  batteries,  which  was  handsomely 


THE    EXEMY    RETREAT.  155 

done,  and  the  enemy  driven  from  his  artillery,  and  his 
position  on  the  left  of  the  road. 

"  The  light  companies  of  the  First  brigade,  and  the 
Third  and  Fourth  regiments  of  infantry,  had  been  de 
ployed  on  the  right  of  the  road,  where,  at  various  points, 
they  became  briskly  engaged  with  the  enemy.  A  small 
party  under  Captain  Buchanan  and  Lieutenants  Wood 
and  Hays,  Fourth  infantry,  composed  chiefly  of  men  of 
that  regiment,  drove  the  enemy  from  a  breastwork 
which  he  occupied,  and  captured  a  piece  of  artillery. 
An  attempt  to  recover  this  piece  was  repelled  by  Cap 
tain  Barbour,  Third  infantry.  The  enemy  was  at  last 
completely  driven  from  his  position  on  the  right  of  the 
road,  and  retreated  precipitately,  leaving  baggage  of 
every  description.  The  Fourth  infantry  took  posses 
sion  of  a  camp  where  the  headquarters  of  the  Mexican 
general-in-chief  wrere  established.  All  his  official  cor 
respondence  was  captured  at  this  place. 

"  The  artillery  battalion  (excepting  the  flank  compa 
nies)  had  been  ordered  to  guard  the  baggage  train, 
which  w^as  parked  some  distance  in  rear.  The  bat 
talion  was  now  ordered  up  to  pursue  the  enemy,  and 
with  the  Third  infantry,  Captain  Ker's  dragoons,  and 
Captain  Duncan's  battery,  followed  him  rapidly  to  the 
river,  making  a  number  of  prisoners.  Great  numbers 
of  the  enemy  were  drowned  in  attempting  to  cross  the 
river  near  the  town.  The  corps  last  mentioned  en 
camped  near  the  river  ;  the  remainder  of  the  army  on 
the  field  of  battle. 

"  The  strength  of  our  marching  lorce  on  this  day,  as 
exhibited  in  the  annexed  field  report,  was  one  hundred 
and  seventy-three  officers,  and  two  thousand  and  forty- 
nine  men — aggregate,  two  thousand  two'  hundred  and 
twenty-two.  The  actual  number  engaged  with  the 


156  AMERICAN    LOSS. 

enemy  did  not  exceed  one  thousand  and  seven  hundred. 
Our  loss  was  three  officers  killed  and  twelve  wounded ; 
thirty-six  men  killed  and  seventy-one  wounded.  Among 
the  officers  killed,  I  have  to  regret  the  loss  of  Lieuten 
ant  Inge,  second  dragoons,  who  fell  at  the  head  of  his 
platoon,  while  gallantly  charging  the  enemy's  battery ; 
of  Lieutenant  Cochrane,  of  the  Fourth,  and  Lieutenant 
Chadbourne,  of  the  Eighth  infantry,  who  likewise  met 
their  death  in  the  thickest  of  the  fight.  The  officers 
wounded  were  Lieutenant-Colonel  Payne,  inspector 
general ;  Lieutenant  Dobbins,  Third  infantry,  serving 
with  the  light  infantry  advance,  slightly ;  Lieutenant- 
Colonel  Mclntosh,  Fifth  infantry,  severely  (twice) ; 
Captain  Hooe,  Fifth  infantry,  severely  (right  arm  since 
amputated) ;  Lieutenant  Fowler,  Fifth  infantry,  slightly ; 
Captain  Montgomery,  Eighth  infantry,  slightly ;  Lieu 
tenants  Gates  and  Jordan,  Eighth  infantry,  severely 
(each  twice) ;  Lieutenants  Selden,  Maclay,  Burbank, 
and  Morris,  Eighth  infantry,  slightly.  A  statement  of 
the  killed  and  wounded  is  annexed  herewith. 

"  I  have  no  accurate  data  from  which  to  estimate 
the  enemy's  force  on  this  day.  He  is  known  to  have 
been  reinforced  after  the  action  of  the  8th,  both  by 
cavalry  and  infantry,  and  no  doubt  to  an  extent  at  least 
equal  to  his  loss  on  that  day.  It  is  probable  that  six 
thousand  men  were  opposed  to  us,  and  in  a  position 
chosen  by  themselves,  and  strongly  defended  with  ar 
tillery.  The  enemy's  loss  was  very  great.  Nearly  two 
hundred  of  his  dead  were  buried  by  us  on  the  day  suc 
ceeding  the  battle.  His  loss  in  killed,  wrounded,  and 
missing,  in  the  two  affairs  of  the  8th  and  9th,  is,  I  think, 
moderately  estimated  at  one  thousand  men. 

"  Our  victory  has  been  decisive.  A  small  force  has 
overcome  immense  odds  of  the  best  troops  that  Mexico 


THE  CAUSES  OF  OUR  SUCCESS.          157 

can  furnish — veteran  regiments  perfectly  equipped  and 
appointed.  Eight  pieces  of  artillery,  several  colors  and 
standards,  a  great  number  of  prisoners,  including  four 
teen  officers,  and  a  large  amount  of  baggage  and  public 
property  have  fallen  into  our  hands. 

"  The  causes  of  victory  are  doubtless  to  be  found  in 
the  superior  quality  of  our  officers  and  men.  I  have 
already,  in  former  reports,  paid  a  general  tribute  to  the 
admirable  conduct  of  the  troops  on  both  days  It  now 
becomes  my  duty— and  I  feel  it  to  be  one  of  great  deli 
cacy — to  notice  individuals.  In  so  extensive  a  field  as 
that  of  the  8th,  and  in  the  dense  cover  where  most  of 
the  action  of  the  9th  was  fought,  I  could  not  possibly 
be  witness  to  more  than  a  small  portion  of  the  opera 
tions  of  the  various  corps ;  and  I  must,  therefore,  de 
pend  upon  the  reports  of  subordinate  commanders, 
which  I  respectfully  inclose  herewith. 

"  Colonel  Twiggs,  the  second  in  command,  wras  par 
ticularly  active  on  both  days  in  executing  my  orders, 
and  directing  the  operations  of  the  right  wir.g.  Lieu 
tenant-Colonel  Mclntosh,  commanding  the  Fifth  in 
fantry,  Lieutenant-Colonel  Garland,  comma.  :  V£  the 
Third  brigade,  Lieutenant-Colonel  Belknap,  couwand- 
ing  the  First  brigade,  Lieutenant-Colonel  Childs,  com 
manding  the  artillery  battalion,  Major  Allen,  Captains 
L.  N.  Morris  and  Montgomery,  commanding  respec 
tively  the  Fourth,  Third,  and  Eighth  regiments  of  in 
fantry,  were  zealous  in  the  performance  of  their  duties ; 
and  gave  examples  to  their  commands  of  cool  and  fear 
less  conduct.  Lieutenant-Colonel  Mclntosh  repulsed 
with  his  regiment  a  charge  of  lancers  in  the  action  of 
Palo  Alto,  and  shared  with  it  in  the  honors  and  dangers 
of  the  following  day,  being  twice  severely  wounded. 
Lieutenant-Colonel  Belknap  headed  a  charge  of  the 


158  INSTANCES    OF    INDIVIDUAL    GALLANTRY. 

Eighth  infantry,  which  resulted  in  driving  the  enemy 
from  his  guns,  and  leaving  us  in  possession  of  that  part 
of  the  field. 

"  Captain  Duncan  and  Lieutenant  Ridgeley  deserve 
especial  notice  for  the  gallant  and  efficient  manner  in 
wjiich  they  manoeuvred  and  served  their  batteries. 
The  impression  made  by  Captain  Duncan's  battery 
upon  the  extreme  right  of  the  enemy's  line,  at  the 
affair  of  Palo  Alto,  contributed  largely  to  the  result  of 
the  day  ;  while  the  terrible  fire  kept  up  by  Lieutenant 
Ridgeley,  in  the  affair  of  the  9th,  inflicted  heavy  losses 
upon  the  enemy.  The  eighteen-pounder  battery,  which 
played  a  conspicuous  part  in  the  action  of  the  8th,  was 
admirably  served  by  Lieutenant  Churchill,  Third  artil 
lery,  assisted  by  Lieutenant  Wood,  topographical  en- 
gineers.  The  charge  of  cavalry  on  the  enemy's 
batteries  on  the  9th,  was  gallantly  led  by  Captain  May 
and  had  complete  success. 

"  Captain  McCall,  Fourth  infantry,  rendered  distin 
guished  service  with  the  advanced  corps  under  his 
orders.  Its  loss,  in  killed  and  wounded,  will  show  how 
closely  it  was  engaged.  I  may  take  this  occasion  to 
say  that,  in  two  former  instances,  Captain  McCall  has 
rendered  valuable  service  as  a  partisan  officer.  In  this 
connection,  I  would  mention  the  services  of  Captain 
Walker,  of  the  Texan  Rangers,  who  was  in  both  affairs 
with  his  company,  and  who  has  performed  very  meri 
torious  service  as  a  spy  and  partisan. 

"  I  must  beg  leave  to  refer  to  the  reports  of  subor 
dinate  commanders  for  the  names  of  many  officers, 
non-commissioned  officers  and  privates,  who  were  dis 
tinguished  for  good  conduct  on  both  days.  Instances 
of  individual  gallantry  and  personal  conflict  with  the 
enemy  were  not  wanting  in  the  affair  of  the  9th,  but 


GOOD    CONDUCT    OF    THE    OFFICERS.  159 

cannot  find  place  in  a  general  report.  The  officers 
serving  in  the  staffs  of  the  different  commanders,  are 
particularly  mentioned  by  them. 

"  I  derived  efficient  aid  on  both  days  from  all  the 
officers  of  my  staff.  Captain  Bliss,  assistant  adjutant- 
general,  Lieutenant-Colonel  Payne,  inspector-general, 
Lieutenant  Eaton,  A.  D.  C.,  Captain  Waggaman,  com 
missary  of  subsistence,  Lieutenant  Scarret,  engineer, 
and  Lieutenants  Blake  and  Meade,  topographical  en 
gineers,  promptly  conveyed  my  orders  to  every  part  of 
the  field.  Lieutenant-Colonel  Payne  was  wounded  in 
the  affair  of  the  9th,  and  I  have  already  had  occasion 
to  report  the  melancholy  death  of  Lieutenant  Blake, 
by  accident,  in  the  interval  between  the  two  engage 
ments.  Major  Craig  and  Lieutenant  Brereton,  of  the 
ordnance  department,  were  actively  engaged  in  their 
appropriate  duties,  and  Surgeon  Craig,  medical  direc 
tor,  superintended  in  person  the  arduous  service  of  the 
field-hospitals.  I  take  this  occasion  to  mention  gen 
erally  the  devotion  to  duty  of  the  medical  staff  of  the 
army,  who  have  been  untiring  in  their  exertions  both 
in  the  field  and  in  the  hospitals,  to  alleviate  the  suffer 
ings  of  the  wounded  of  both  armies.  Captains  Cross- 
man  and  Myres  of  the  quartermaster's  department, 
who  had  charge  of  the  heavy  supply-train  at  both  en- 
f  gagements,  conducted  it  in  a  most  satisfactory  manner, 
and  finally  brought  it  up  without  the  smallest  loss,  to 
its  destination. 

"  I  inclose  an  inventory  of  the  Mexican  property 
captured  on  the  field,  and  also  a  sketch  of  the  field  of 
'  Resaca  de  la  Palma/  and  of  the  route  from  Point 
Isabel,  made  by  my  aide-de-camp,  Lieutenant  Eaton. 
One  regimental  color,  (battalion  of  Tampico,)  and 
many  standards  and  guidons  of  cavalry  were  taken  at 


160  DETAILS    OF    MAY'S    CHARGE. 

the  affair  of  the  9th.  I  would  be  pleased  to  receive 
your  instructions  as  to  the  disposition  to  be  made  of 
these  trophies — whether  they  shall  be  sent  to  Washing 
ton,  &c." 

There  is  no  incident  connected  with  this  brilliant 
action  that  has  created  so  much  admiration  throughout 
the  country,  and  which,  in  reality,  displayed  such 
daring  courage,  as  the  charge  of  Captain  May  upon 
the  Mexican  batteries.  Though  this  bold  and  hazardous 
achievement  has  already  been  incidentally  referred  to, 
it  is  believed  the  following  more  detailed  account,  by 
an  eye  witness  and  actor  in  the  charge,  will  possess 
interest.  It  is  by  Sergeant  Milton,  an  officer  of  May's 
dragoons  : 

"  At  Palo  Alto,"  says  he,  "  I  took  my  rank  in  the 
troop  as  second  sergeant,  and  while  upon  the  field  my 
horse  was  wounded  in  the  jaw  by  a  grape-shot,  which 
disabled  him  for  service.  While  he  was  plunging  in 
agony  I  dismounted,  and  the  quick  eye  of  Captain  May 
observed  me  as  I  alighted  from  my  horse.  He  inquired 
if  I  was  hurt.  I  answered  no — that  my  horse  was  the 
sufferer.  '  I  am  glad  it  is  not  yourself/  replied  he ; 
'there  is  another,'  (pointing  at  the  same  time  to  a 
steed  without  a  rider,  which  was  standing  with  dilated 
eye,  gazing  at  the  strife,)  '  mount  him.'  I  approached 
the  horse,  and  he  stood  still  until  I  put  my  hand  upon 
the  rein  and  patted  his  neck,  when  he  rubbed  his  head 
alongside  of  me,  as  if  pleased  that  some  human  being 
wras  about  to  become  his  companion  in  the  affray.  He 
was  a  noble  bay,  which  had,  with  a  number  of  others, 
been  purchased  for  the  troop  in  St.  Louis.  I  bestrode 
him,  and  we  passed  through  the  first  day  unharmed. 

"  On  the  second  day,  at  Resaca  de  la  Palma,  our 
troop  stood  anxiously  waiting  for  the  signal  to  be 


DETAIL    OF    MAY'S    CHARGE.  161 

given,  and  never  had  I  looked  upon  men  on  whose 
countenances  were  more  clearly  expressed  a  fixed  de 
termination  to  win.  The  lips  of  some  were  pale  with 
excitement,  and  their  eyes  wore  that  fixed  expression 
which  betokens  mischief;  others,  with  shut  teeth, 
would  quietly  laugh,  and  catch  a  tighter  grip  of  the 
rein,  or  seat  themselves  with  care  and  firmness  in  the 
saddle,  while  quiet  words  of  confidence  and  encourage 
ment  were  passed  from  each  to  his  neighbor.  All  at 
once  Captain  May  rode  to  the  front  of  his  troop — 
every  rein  and  sabre  was  tightly  grasped.  Raising 
himself  and  pointing  at  the  battery,  he  shouted,  '  Men, 
follow  /'  There  was  now  a  clattering  of  hoofs  and  a 
rattling  of  sabre  sheaths — the  fire  of  the  enemy's  guns 
was  partly  drawn  by  Lieutenant  Ridgeley,  and  the  next 
moment  we  were  sweeping  like  the  wind  up  the  ravine. 
I  was  in  a  squad  of  about  nine  men,  who  were  sep 
arated  by  a  shower  of  grape  from  the  battery,  and  we 
were  in  advance,  May  leading.  He  turned  his  horse 
opposite  the  breastwork,  in  front  of  the  guns,  and 
with  another  shout  '  to  follow,'  leaped  over  them. 
Several  of  the  horses  did  follow,  but  mine,  being  new 
and  not  well  trained,  refused ;  two  others  balked,  and 
their  riders  started  down  the  ravine  to  turn  the  breast 
work  where  the  rest  of  the  troop  had  entered.  I  made 
another  attempt  to  clear  the  guns  with  my  horse,  turn 
ing  him  around — feeling  all  the  time  secure  at  thinking 
the  guns  discharged — I  put  his  head  towards  them  and 
gave  him  spur,  but  he  again  balked  ;  so  turning  his 
head  down  the  ravine,  I  too  started  to  ride  round  the 
breastwork. 

"  As  I  came  down  a  lancer  dashed  at  me  with  lance 
in  rest.  With  my  sabre  I  parried  his  thrust,  only  re 
ceiving  a  slight  flesh-wound  from  its  point  in  the  arm, 


162  AN    AWKWARD    POSITION. 

which  felt  at  the  time  like  the  prick  of  a  pin.  The 
lancer  turned  and  fled  ;  at  that  moment  a  ball  passed 
through  my  horse  on  the  left  side  and  shattered  my 
right  side.  The  shot  killed  the  horse  instantly,  and  he 
fell  upon  my  left  leg,  fastening  me  by  his  weight  to  the 
earth.  There  I  lay,  right  in  the  midst  of  the  action, 
where  carnage  was  riding  riot,  and  every  moment  the 
shot,  from  our  own  and  the  Mexican  guns,  tearing  up 
the  earth  around  me.  I  tried  to  raise  my  horse  so  as 
to  extricate  my  leg,  but  I  had  already  grown  so  weak 
with  my  wound  that  I  was  unable,  and  from  the  mere 
attempt,  I  fell  back  exhausted.  To  add  to  my  horror, 
a  horse,  \vho  was  careering  about,  riderless,  within  a 
few  yards  of  me,  received  a  wound,  and  he  commenced 
struggling  and  rearing  with  pain.  Two  or  three  times, 
he  came  near  falling  on  me,  but  at  length,  with  a  scream 
of  agony  and  a  bound,  he  fell  dead — his  body  touching 
my  own  fallen  steed.  What  I  had  been  in  momentary 
dread  of  now  occurred — my  wounded  limb,  which  was 
lying  across  the  horse,  received  another  ball  in  the 
ankle. 

"  I  now  felt  disposed  to  give  up ;  and,  exhausted 
through  pain  and  excitement,  a  film  gathered  over  my 
eyes,  which  I  thought  was  the  precursor  of  dissolution 
From  this  hopeless  state  I  was  aroused  by  a  woundec 
Mexican,  calling  out  to  me,  '  Bueno  Americano,'  and 
turning  my  eyes  towards  the  spot,  I  saw  that  he  was 
holding  a  certificate  and  calling  to  me.  The  tide  of 
action  now  rolled  away  from  me,  and  hope  again  sprung 
up.  The  Mexican  uniforms  began  to  disappear  from 
the  chapparal,  and  squadrons  of  our  troops  passed  in 
sight,  apparently  in  pursuit.  While  I  was  thus  nursing 
the  prospect  of  escape,  I  beheld,  not  far  from  me,  a  vil- 
lanous-looking  ranchero,  armed  with  an  American  ser- 


REVIEW    OF    T.iE    ACTIONS.  163 

» 

geant's  short  sword,  dispatching  a  wounded  A.merican 
soldier,  whose  body-  he  robbed — the  next  he  came  to 
was  a  Mexican,  whom  he  served  the  same  way,  and 
thus  I  looked  on  while  he  murderously  slew  four.  1 
drew  an  undischarged  pistol  from  my  holsters,  and, 
laying  myself  along  my  horse's  neck,  watched  him,  ex 
pecting  to  be  the  next  victim  ;  but  something  fright 
ened  him  from  his  vulture-like  business,  and  he  fled  in 
another  direction.  I  need  not  say  that  had  he  visited 
me  I  should  have  taken  one  more  shot  at  the  enemy, 
and  would  have  died  content,  had  I  succeeded  in  mak 
ing  such  an  assassin  bite  the  dust.  Two  hours  after, 
I  had  the  pleasure  of  shaking  some  of  my  comrades  by 
the  hand,  who  were  picking  up  the  wotnded.  They 
lifted  my  Mexican  friend,  too,  and  I  am  pleased  to  say 
he,  as  well  as  myself,  live  to  fight  over  again  the  san 
guine  fray  of  Resaca  de  la  Palma" 

The  splendid  victories  of  Palo  Alto  and  Resaca  de  la 
Palma  were  received  with  unbounded  enthusiasm  in 
every  part  of  the  Union.  Fought  against  such  over 
whelming  odds  as  they  were,  they  were  looked  upon, 
not  only  by  military  men  in  this  country,  but  by  com 
petent  and  not  over  partial  judges  in  Europe,  as  evin 
cing  the  very  highest  order  of  military  genius  in  the 
commander-in-chief,  and  great  courage  and  discipline 
in  his  soldiers.  No  actions,  in  modern  times,  were  ever 
fought  under  such  disadvantages  of  numbers  and  posi 
tion,  as  those  under  which  General  Taylor  labored 
in  these  two  engagements,  with  such  decisive  results. 
The  following  notice  of  these  actions,  from  a  gentle 
man  formerly  attached  to  the  army,  will  give  a  correct 
view  of  the  character  of  the  victories,  besides  possess 
ing  interest  to  all  classes  of  readers  : 

"  General  Taylor,  in  his  peculiarly  modest  manner, 


164          LOSS  OF  THE  MEXICAN  ARMY. 

says  :  '  It  is  probable  that  six  thousand  men  were  op 
posed  to  us,  and  in  a  position  selected  by  themselves, 
and  strongly  defended  with  artillery.'  Th,3  whole 
tenor  of  the  general's  dispatches,  proves  an  anxious 
desire  not  to  overrate  the  numbers  opposed  to  him  or 
the  character  of  his  victories ;  and  the  concurrent  tes 
timony  of  the  officers  of  both  armies,  leaves  no  question 
that,  on  the  9th  of  May,  the  enemy  had  actually  en 
gaged  upwards  of  seven  thousand  troops,  or  more  than 
four  times  the  number  opposed  to  them ;  and  it  is 
equally  certain,  that  their  loss  greatly  exceeded  in 
killed,  wounded  and  missing,  one  thousand.  General 
Taylor  accounts  for  four  hundred  buried  by  our  troops 
in  the  two  actions ;  and  Colonel  Twiggs  in  a  letter 
now  before  us  says,  '  we  found  in  the  hospitals  at  Mata- 
moras  three  hundred  and  eighty-two  wounded  soldiers 
and  several  officers,  and  very  many  wounded  accom 
panied  the  retreating  army/  This,  it  must  be  borne 
in  mind,  was  on  the  18th  of  May — nine  days  after  the 
battle ;  and  an  officer  writes  that  the  number  buried  at 
Matamoras  between  the  9th  and  18th  must  have  been 
several  hundred.  Our  conviction  is,  that  in  the  two 
engagements  the  enemy's  loss  was  nearer  two  than  one 
thousand  ;  and  this  fact  is  very  material,  as  demonstrat 
ing  the  character  of  the  Mexican  troops,  and  proving 
that  an  army  seldom  fought  better.  They  did  not 
retreat  on  the  night  of  the  8th,  nor  even  on  the  9th, 
until  at  least  one-seventh  of  their  whole  army  had  been 
either  killed  or  wounded ;  or,  in  other  words,  until  our 
army  had  rendered  hors  du  combat  a  number  exceed 
ing  one  half  of  its  whole  force. 

"  These  facts  prove  that  the  Mexicans  fought  bravely. 
It  is  admitted  on  all  hands  that  they  were  admirably 
disciplined,  the  flower  of  the  Mexican  army — and  com- 


CHARACTER    OF    THE    MEXICAN    TROOPS.  165 

posed  of  officers  and  men  who  had  been  engaged  in 
battle  after  battle,  and  had  nobly  earned  for  themselves 
the  title  of  veterans.  This  army,  commanded,  as  has 
been  said,  by  one  of  the  most  gallant  and  accomplished 
artillery  officers  of  the  age,  (Arista,)  selected  its  posi 
tion,  and  arranged  at  leisure  its  line  of  defence,  com 
posed  of  three  batteries  of  artillery,  supported  by 
five  thousand  infantry  and  two  thousand  cavalry — 
whose  boast  is,  that  they  are  the  best  cavalry  in  the 
world ;  and  that  they  are  brave,  daring,  and  the  best 
horsemen  on  the  continent  is  fully  admitted.  Thus 
posted,  this  army  is  assailed  by  the  American  arrowy 
only  one-fourth  as  strong.  General  Taylor  reports  that 
its  artillery,  with  the  exception  of  Ringgold's  and  Dun 
can's  eight  pieces  of  light  artillery,  was  parked  with 
his  immense  baggage  train  and  provisions  a  great  dis 
tance  in  the  rear,  and  was  only  employed  in  pursuing 
the  enemy  after  he  had  been  completely  routed.  Thus 
then,  the  naked  fact  is  presented  to  the  consideration 
of  the  country,  that  our  army  attacked  the  Mexicans 
'  strongly  posted  in  a  position  selected  by  themselves.' 
The  forces  thus  posted  and  assailed,  wrere  composed  of 
veterans,  disciplined  troops,  four  times  as  numerous  as 
their  assailants,  with  a  heavier  train  of  artillery,  and 
nearly  five  times  as  many  cavalry !  They  fought 
bravely  for  three  hours  ;  lost  one-seventh  of  their  whole 
number  ;  and  then  were  literally  dispersed  by  the  bayo 
nets  of  our  troops — throwing  their  muskets  at  our  men 
in  the  spirit  of  desperation,  swearing  that  they  were 
devils  incarnate ! 

"  Such  was  the  battle  of  Resaca  de  la  Palma,  and 
such,  too,  was  tha-.  of  Palo  Alto  on  the  day  preceding 
it.  To  judge  of  this  achievement  and  compare  it  with 
European  battles,  we  need  only  ask  ourselves,  on  what 


12 


166  IMPORTANCE    OF    DISCIPLINE. 

occasion  have  eighty  thousand  disciplined  troops 
strongly  posted,  in  a  position  selected  by  themselves, 
been  driven  from  that  position,  routed  and  cut  to 
pieces,  by  twenty  thousand  ?  When  and  where  did 
any  army  thus  conquer,  rout  and  completely  disperse, 
four  times  its  number  of  brave  and  disciplined  troops, 
who  fought  in  a  manner  which,  under  ordinary  circum 
stances,  entitled  them  to  victory  ?  When  such  affairs 
can  be  found  in  modern  history,  we  will  yield  to  them 
the  palm.  But  we  know  that  there  are  no  such  battles 
on  record ;  and  we  desire  to  impress  upon  our  country 
men,  that  our  little  army,  under  General  Taylor,  has 
achieved  for  itself  a  reputation,  such  as  no  other  army 
has  ever  won  in  modern  times,  and  the  scene  of  which 
will  hereafter  bo  referred  to  as  another  Thermopylae. 

"  Now  a  few  words  as  to  the  causes  which  produced 
these  two  victories.  We  said  on  the  12th  of  May, 
when  apprehensions  were  very  general  for  the  fate  of 
our  army,  we  felt  very  certain,  that  before  that  day, 
General  Taylor  had  met  and  dispersed  the  entire  force 
of  the  enemy,  if  it  was  not  more  than  four  times  as 
great  as  his  own  !  We  said  that  this  opinion  was 
based  upon  a  knowledge,  that  no  disciplined  troops 
ever  yet  abandoned  their  officers ;  that  we  knew  our 
old  comrades  well,  knew  of  what  material  they  were 
composed — what  West  Point  had  made  them — and 
that  they  would  never  yield  or  retreat.  We  knew  that 
every  officer  in  that  little  army  was  prepared  for  vic 
tory  or  death;  and  that  such  being  the  case,  and 
knowing  their  men  were  disciplined  and  would  certainly 
stand  by  them,  \ve  felt  that  victory  was  inevitable, 
unless  the  opposing  force  was  so  great  as  to  forbid  its 
possibility ;  in  which  case  our  whole  army  would  be 
cut  to  pieces — selling  their  lives  dearly,  but  never 


POSITION    OF    OFFICERS    IN    BATTLE.  167 

yielding.  And  such,  too,  would  have  been  their  con 
duct,  and  such  the  result  of  this  affair,  if  the  opposing 
force  had  been  English  instead  of  Mexican. 

"  To  this  gallantry  and  determination  on  the  part  of 
our  officers,  we  are  indebted  for  the  glorious  achieve 
ments  of  the  8th  and  9th  of  May ;  and  an  examination 
into  the  killed  and  wounded,  very  certainly  demon 
strates  this  fact.  When  in  order  of  battle,  the  officers 
are  always  posted  with  a  view  to  their  greater  security, 
as  they  are  required  to  conduct  the  battle.  Thus  the 
company  officers  are  immediately  in  the  rear  of  their 
men  in  line  of  battle,  and  the  field  and  staff,  still  further 
in  the  rear ;  and  it  is  admitted  to  be  a  sound  calcula 
tion,  that  when  the  proportion  of  officers  to  the  rank 
and  file  is  as  one  to  twenty,  the  proportion  of  killed 
and  wounded  should  be  one  officer  to  every  forty  of 
the  rank  and  file,  owing  to  the  greater  security  of  their 
position,  intended  to  preserve  their  lives.  Now  let  us 
apply  this  calculation  to  the  battle  of  Resaca  de  la 
Palma. 

"In  that  ever  memorable  affair,  the  proportion  of 
officers  to  the  rank  and  file,  was  as  one  to  thirteen ; 
and  therefore,  according  to  European  calculation,  the 
proportion  of  killed  and  wounded,  should  have  been 
one  to  twenty-six.  Now  what  are  the  facts?  The 
total  of  killed  and  wounded  is  one  hundred  and  twenty- 
two,  of  whom  fifteen  were  commissioned  officers,  or 
one  out  of  every  eight ! 

"  Here,  in  a  few  words,  the  country  has  the  means 
of  determining  how  it  was  that  seventeen  hundred 
American  troops  drove  from  their  selected  position, 
defeated  and  utterly  routed,  four  times  their  number 
of  disciplined  Mexican  cavalry,  artillery,  and  infantry ! 
Here  is  the  true  cause  of  the  victories  of  the  8th  and 


168          CHARACTER  OF  THE  BATTLES. 

9th  of  May,  being  the  most  wonderful  in  the  history 
of  modern  warfare.  Our  officers  fought  in  front  of 
their  men.  They  literally  led  them  to  the  cannon's 
mouth ;  and  as  the  history  of  these  battles  proves,  when 
their  swords  were  useless,  threw  them  away,  picked  up 
the  muskets  and  accoutrements  of  those  who  had 
fallen,  and  with  these,  set  their  men  an  example  of 
coolness  and  daring  which  made  every  private  in  the 
little  army  feel  himself  a  hero.  When  officers  thus 
lead  their  men  up  to  the  very  mouths  of  the  enemy's 
cannon  ;  when  sword  in  hand,  or  with  the  bayonet, 
they  drive  the  enemy  from  their  guns,  and  then  them 
selves  perform  the  work  of  gunners ;  when  for  hours, 
as  was  the  case  in  our  flying  artillery,  the  officers 
helped  work  the  guns,  and  in  some  cases  did  the  duty 
of  three  privates — victory  is  certain — inevitable. 

"  Such  was  the  character  of  the  battles  of  the  8th 
and  9th  May — such  the  manner  in  which  they  were 
won — ancl  such  the  conduct  of  such  officers.  Under 
such  circumstances,  our  whole  army  might  have  been 
destroyed ;  but  if  not,  then  was  victory  absolutely  cer 
tain.  We  care  not  how  exalted  the  character  of  the 
troops  opposed  to  them,  or  to  what  nation  they  belonged, 
in  this,  their  first  fight  after  years  of  peace  and  the 
taunts  of  members  of  Congress,  it  was  morally  and 
physically  impossible  to  resist  them.  Honor — unfading 
and  perpetual  honor — to  General  Taylor,  the  gallant 
officers  who  so  nobly  sustained  him,  and  to  the  army 
of  heroes  they  led  to  victory  on  the  8th  and  9th  of 
May,  1846 ;  and  most  fortunate  for  them  and  for  the 
country  was  it,  that  we  had  no  undisciplined  volunteers 
or  militia  in  those  battles.  We  doubt  not  their  cour 
age ;  but  no  undisciplined  troops  could  have  fought 
those  fights.  It  would  have  been  morally  impossible 


EUROPEAN    OPINION    OF    THE    ACTIONS.  169 

for  any  such  to  have  withstood  the  fire  of  the  enemy 
on  those  days  and  do  what  was  required  of  our  soldiers 
and  officers ;  and  had  there  been  any  faltering — had  a 
single  battalion  given  way,  as  they  most  assuredly 
would — the  enemy  would  have  been  encouraged  to 
persevere,  and  our  whole  army  might  have  been  anni 
hilated  and  cut  to  pieces.  Never  was  the  value  of 
disciplined  men  more  triumphantly  demonstrated  than 
on  these  glorious  occasions ;  and  since  we  have  learned 
that  General  Taylor  compels  the  volunteers  with  him 
to  receive  six  hours'  drilling  per  day,  and  relieves  them 
from  all  other  duties,  to  make  soldiers  of  them,  we 
venture  to  predict  that  they,  too,  when  they  meet  the 
enemy,  will  add  to  the  reputation  of  our  arms.  '  Rough 
and  Ready'  will  first  make  them  soldiers,  and  then  win 
victories  with  them." 

The  London  Herald  remarks  :  "  The  proceedings  of 
the  soldiers  under  General  Taylor  have  been  such  as 
to  do  honor  to  the  Republic.  The  little  army,  amount- 
to  but  a  handful  of  men,  at  a  distance  of  thousands  of 
miles  from  any  available  succor,  has  defended  itself 
against  superior  numbers,  and  at  length  has  crossed  the 
Rio  Grande,  and  took  possession  of  Matamoras,  almost 
in  sight  of  an  opposing  enemy — an  exploit  which  Na 
poleon  has  pronounced  to  be  the  perfection  of  general 
ship" 

It  is  not  easy  to  imagine  the  painful  solicitude  and 
anxiety  that  prevailed  at  Fort  Brown  during  the  actions 
of  the  8th  and  9th.  Although  within  sound  of  the 
firing,  the  result  of  the  contest  was,  of  course,  for  many 
hours  in  doubt,  however  strong  their  confidence  was 
that  victory  would,  in  the  end,  crown  the  American 
arms.  But  if  they  were  in  painful  doubt  as  to  the  fate 
of  the  contest  in  which  they  knew  their  brothers  in 


170  ANXIETY    AT    FORT    BROWN. 

arms  were  engaged,  without  being  able  to  aid  them  in 
the  struggle,  they  were  left  in  comparative  quiet  by 
the  Mexicans  during  the  memorable  two  days,  and 
had  time  to  repair  the  damages  done  to  the  fort  by  the 
bombardment  to  which  they  had  so  long  been  subject ; 
and,  accordingly,  on  the  morning  of  the  9th,  their  first 
act  was  to  raise  the  national  flag.  The  history  of  the 
events  during  the  action  are  resumed  from  "  Our  Army 
on  the  Rio  Grande."  On  the  8th,  continues  this  work, 
the  halyards  had  become  unrigged,  at  a  time  when 
the  firing  from  the  enemy  was  too  intense  to  establish 
them,  the  staff  at  that  time  being  outside  of  the  fort. 
To  meet  this  difficulty,  the  regimental  colors  were 
raised  on  a  temporary  substitute,  erected  on  the  para 
pets.  An  officer  of  the  Seventh  succeeded  in  lower 
ing  the  topmast  of  the  staff,  and  rigging  the  halyards. 
While  engaged  in  this  patriotic  duty,  the  enemy  opened 
on  him  from  all  their  batteries,  with  round  shot  and 
shell,  amidst  which  he  coolly  labored  for  fifteen  or 
twenty  minutes.  Finding  he  was  not  strong  enough 
to  elevate  the  topmast  to  its  proper  place,  he  lashed  it 
in  its  position,  and  gave  the  stars  and  stripes  to  the 
breeze. 

At  10  o'clock,  a  sergeant  and  ten  men  went  out,  and 
set  fire  to  the  rancho,  known  by  Arista's  dispatches  as 
the  Fanques  del  Raminero,  the  buildings  of  which  had 
been  successively  occupied  by  our  own  and  the  ene 
my's  pickets.  This  act  brought  forth  a  heavy  dis 
charge  of  shell,  canister,  and  round  shot,  which  con 
tinued  at  intervals  for  about  four  hours. 

Major  Brown,  since  his  wound  had  lingered  on,  his 
friends  bestowing  on  him  every  attention  that  the  cir 
cumstances  would  admit :  he  bore  his  sufferings  with 
the'  greatest  fortitude,  and  whenever  he  spoke,  he  urged 


A    PAINFUL    DILEMMA.  171 

his  men  to  do  their  duty,  and  never  surrender  the  fort 
It  was  necessary  that  he  should  be  placed  in  one  of  the 
bomb-proofs,  to  protect  him  from  the  missiles  of  the 
enemy  :  the  weather  was  exceedingly  warm,  and  the 
air  in  the  bomb-proof  necessarily  close ;  this  circum 
stance  perhaps,  joined  with  the  aggravated  nature  of 
his  wounds,  hastened  his  death.  He  gradually  sunk, 
and  at  two  o'clock  peacefully  breathed  his  last.  At 
the  time  of  his  death,  everything  around  the  fort  was 
perfectly  still ;  the  soldiers  around  the  dying  man 
seemed  scarcely  to  breathe,  lest  they  should  intrude 
upon  his  parting  spirit ;  nor  was  the  silence  broken, 
until  Ridgeley  opened  his  batteries  upon  Resaca  de  la 
Palma. 

No  language  can  describe  the  intense  interest  with 
which  the  raging  battle  was  listened  to  :  each  man  was 
at  his  post,  and  every  booming  gun  called  forth  an 
almost  agonizing  interest  to  learn  its  nationality  and 
effects.  Meanwhile  the  bombardment  opened  simul 
taneously  with  the  firing  on  the  field,  and  continued  to 
increase  with  unprecedented  severity ;  but  it  was  not 
to  the  batteries  of  the  Mexicans  that  attention  was  di 
rected.  Our  eighteen-pounders  were  occasionally  fired, 
to  let  General  Taylor  know  that  all  was  still  well  in 
the  fort.  The  firing  on  the  battle-field  was  now  grow 
ing  less  and  less  powerful,  and  the  discharges  were  be 
coming  irregular.  "  They  have  charged  on  the  guns !' 
shouted  one  of  the  officers ;  another,  and  another  was 
silenced.  "  They  have  carried  them !"  shouted  anothe-r 
in  uncontrollable  ecstasy.  All  cannonading  ceased; 
volleys  of  musketry  were  next  heard,  then  all  was  still. 
How  eloquently  the  silence  spoke  of  the  hand-to-hand 
conflict,  and  how  the  blood  in  the  hearts  of  these  brave 
men  went  and  came,  from  excitement  to  be  engaged 


172  THE    NEWS    OF    VICTORY. 

in  it !  The  victorious  result  of  our  arms  was  now  al 
most  certain.  General  Taylor  and  his  brave  men 
would  either  conquer  or  die.  No  bells  were  now  ring 
ing  in  Matamoras,  and  the  noisy  music,  that  was  wont 
to  belabor  the  air,  had  been  silenced  since  the  evening 
of  the  8th.  This,  to  the  heroes  of  the  fort,  was  full  of 
meaning,  and  the  tale  was  soon  told.  At  a  little  before 
six,  a  confused  rush  of  cavalry  and  straggling  infantry 
towards  the  Rio  Grande,  announced  the  victory  of  the 
Americans,  at  sight  of  which,  an  officer  of  the  Seventh 
jumped  upon  the  parapet,  beside  the  regimental  flag 
staff,  and  gave  three  cheers,  which  were  responded  to 
so  loudly  and  heartily  by  all  in  the  fort,  that  they  si 
lenced  the  enemy's  batteries,  for  from  that  moment 
they  ceased  firing.  The  news  had  reached  Matamoras 
that  to  Mexico  the  day  was  lost. 

The  distance  from  Resaca  de  la  Palma  to  the  river, 
is  about  four  miles.  Beyond  the  battle-ground  the  road 
forks,  leading  to  both  the  upper  and  lower  ferries,  be 
tween  which  is  situated  Fort  Brown.  The  country 
here  is  more  broken,  and  the  chapparal  of  stronger  and 
denser  growth  than  in  the  interior.  Into  these  intricate 
thickets  a  majority  of  the  Mexicans  fled  after  the  rout 
became  general ;  hundreds  and  thousands  of  troops 
here  buried  themselves,  waiting  for  the  veil  of  night  to 
aid  them  in  their  escape.  Along  the  road,  however, 
great  numbers  swept,  "  fear  lending  them  wings."  In 
this  flight  the  slightly  wounded  infantry  fell  exhausted ; 
norses  that  had  been  shot,  but  able  to  maintain  their 
feet  until  put  at  full  speed,  rolled  on  the  earth,  carry 
ing  their  riders  with  them.  The  soldiers  stripped  them 
selves  of  every  encumbrance  ;  they  threw  away  their 
muskets,  cartridge-boxes,  their  military  cloaks,  with 
everything  calculated  to  retard  their  speed,  plainly  mark- 


FLIGHT    OF    THE    DEFEATED.  173 

ing  their  route  by  the  abandoned  articles.  Squadrons 
of  cavalry,  finding  their  movements  impeded  by  the  in 
fantry,  rode  over,  without  scruple,  those  whom  the  fate 
of  war  had  spared.  Our  troops  pursued  ;  but  their 
arms  lost  their  force  when  directed  against  troops  of 
defenceless  beings,  or  individuals  fleeing  before  a  vic 
torious  foe. 

One  of  the  "  eighteens"  in  the  fort  was  now  turned 
towards  the  upper  ferry,  sending  a  shower*  of  grape 
among  the  fleeing  hundreds.  As  our  pursuing  columns 
debouched  from  the  chapparal  that  surrounds  Fort 
Brown,  and  saw  the  flag  of  our  country  still  waving  in 
triumph  from  its  ramparts,  they  raised  to  the  glory  of 
its  defenders,  a  shout  that  made  the  welkin  ring,  and  it 
was  sent  back  from  the  fort  until  cheer  answering 
cheer,  reverberated  along  the  valley  of  the  Rio  Grande. 
The  want  of  a  sufficient  number  of  dragoons  made  it 
impossible  immediately  to  extend  our  lines  so  as  to  cut 
off  the  enemy's  retreat,  and  General  Taylor,  deficient 
in  Rieans  to  cross  the  river  with  rapidity  and  force, 
had  made  no  previous  arrangements  to  attempt  so 
desirable  a  consummation  of  his  victory.  With  the 
approach  of  night  all  offensive  measures  on  our  part 
ceased. 

A  part  of  our  pursuing  troops,  including  May's 
command,  having  drunk  of  the  water  of  the  Rio 
Grande,  fell  back  to  the  battle-ground,  where  they, 
with  the  main  army,  bivouacked  for  the  night.  Dun 
can's  and  Ridgeley's  commands,  Lieutenant-Colone 
Childs'  battalion,  Captain  Ker's  dragoons,  together 
with  Captain  C.  F.  Smith's  command,  bivouacked  on 
the  banks  of  the  river,  many  upon  the  same  ground 
they  had  left  nine  days  before. 

Throughout  both  battles,  the  Mexicans  had  kept  up 


174  TERROR    OF    THE    MEXICANS. 

a  constant  communication  with  Matamoras  by  means 
of  a  secret  crossing  above  the  upper  ferry.  By  this 
they  had  sent  over  their  wounded,  and  brought  over 
their  reinforcements  as  the  contest  thickened.  They 
forced  the  poor  wretches  into  sacks  slung  across  the 
backs  of  mules,  and  thus  the  agony  of  their  wounds 
increa-sing  at  every  step,  they  were  conveyed  to  that 
city  they  had  hoped  to  enter  so  proudly  as  victors. 

When  Captain  May  made  his  charge,  many  of  the 
soldiers  in  the  rear  of  the  Mexican  army  abandoned 
their  ranks  and  fled  ;  and  the  rancheros,  who  had  hung 
about  as  vultures  waiting  for  prey,  finding  that  our 
train  was  not  likely  to  fall  into  their  hands,  rushed  into 
the  camp  of  their  own  countrymen,  robbed  it  of  what 
ever  loose  valuables  they  could  find,  then  scattered 
over  the  country  and  disappeared.  Colonel  Curasco, 
the  "  bull-dog,"  so  called,  of  the  Mexican  army,  was 
the  first  officer  that  fled.  Early  in  the  contest  he 
crossed  to  the  east  of  the  Rio  Grande,  and  secreted 
himself  in  the  suburbs  of  the  town.  After  our  troops 
charged,  and  took  the  batteries,  General  Ampudia  also 
sought  safety  in  flight,  and  was  the  first  man  that 
appeared  in  Matamoras  after  the  defeat  of  the  army. 
Mad  with  terror,  and  exhausted  by  his  narrow  escape 
from  being  drowned  while  crossing  the  river,  he  en 
tered  the  Plaza,  and  circled  it  several  times  uncon 
scious  of  what  he  was  doing,  until  his  senses  were 
recalled  by  his  wondering  countrymen,  who  learned 
Arista's  total  defeat,  as  Ampudia  exclaimed,  "  All  is 
lost!" 

At  their  secret  crossing  the  Mexicans  had  but  one 
flat,  which  was  entirely  insufficient  for  the  numbers 
who  now,  in  terror,  sought  the  river.  While  the  flat 
swarmed  with  infantry,  the  cavalry  would  charge,  and, 


A    DREADFUL    SCEXE.  IT 

filling  the  flat,  drive  the  wretches  who  had  occupied  it 
into  the  river.  The  water  was  covered  with  the 
miserable  beings  who,  confused  and  desperate,  plunged 
about  in  the  waves,  calling  on  God  to  help  them,  or 
venting  their  impotent  maledictions  upon  those  who 
had  forced  them  to  a  watery  grave.  They  sunk  by 
scores,  clutching  each  other  in  the  agonies  of  death ; 
and  the  "  mad  river"  fairly  boiled  with  the  expiring 
breath  of  those  who  had  sunken  under  its  dark  wave ! 

In  the  midst  of  the  panic  Father  Leary  arrived  at 
the  bank,  and  by  his  presence  restored  order,  in  a  cer 
tain  degree,  among  the  fugitives.  He  took  his  place 
on  the  flat,  already  crowded  with  troops.  It  was  about 
shoving  off,  when  down  the  bank  swept  a  flying 
column  of  cavalry.  Goaded  by  their  riders,  the  steeds 
madly  leaped  into  the  boats,  crushing  to  death  scores 
of  their  victims,  and  driving  the  remainder  into  the 
river;  the  holy  father  raised  his  crucifix  above  his 
head,  muttered  an  ejaculatory  prayer,  and  disappeared 
with  the  mass  of  his  fellow-beings  under  the  waves. 

Nothing  could  exceed  the  consternation  that  reigned 
in  Matamoras  on  the  night  of  the  9th.  Between  four 
and  five  thousand  lawless  soldiers  were  wandering, 
panic  struck,  about  the  streets.  The  chagrined  and 
discomfited  officers,  formed  into  cabals,  and  speculated 
upon  the  causes  of  their  inglorious  defeat.  Meanwhilef 
Ampudia  was  endeavoring  to  prove  his  own  bravery 
by  secretly  denouncing  Arista,  and  declaring,  that,  had 
he  been  commander-in-chief,  he  would  have  swept  the 
Americans  from  off  the  face  of  the  earth. 

The  night  was  made  hideous  by  the  constant  arrival 
of  the  wounded  in  sacks  ;  many  yelled  like  fiends,  as 
the  rough  carriage,  and  contracted  form,  started  afresh 
their  bleeding  wounds  ;  others  were  found  dead  in  their 


176        A  COWARDLY  MEXICAN  GENERAL. 

sacks,  having  been  drowned  while  crossing  the  rivei 
on  swimming  mules.  The  women  of  the  city  rushed 
to  the  ball-rooms,  and  tore  down  the  festoons  prepared 
for  the  great  festival,  to  be  given  in  honor  of  their 
victorious  arms.  They  tore  off  and  stamped  upon 
their  gay  apparel,  and  mingled  their  cries  of  wild  des 
pair  with  those  of  the  wounded. 

The  more  substantial  citizens  hurriedly  gathered 
together  their  effects  and  fled  into  the  country ;  man^ 
of  these  fell  by  the  hands  of  unorganized  troops,  and 
their  property  was  divided  among  the  murderers. 
Hundreds  of  soldiers  were  scattered  over  the  country, 
who  pillaged  all  within  their  reach,  and  attacked  the 
defenceless  that  came  in  their  way.  Social,  civil,  and 
military  order  were  scattered  to  the  winds, — dark 
crime,  and  unbridled  passion  rioted  in  the  confusion 
that  followed  this  terrible  defeat. 

General  Taylor's  first  care,  after  having  the  wounds 
of  the  living,  both  American  and  Mexican,  properly 
attended  to,  was  to  perform  the  last  sad  rites  for  the 
dead  of  the  two  armies.  His  humanity  to  the  enemy 
on  the  occasion  reflects  even  more  honor  upon  him 
than  his  coolness,  courage  and  skill  in  battle.  The 
same  care  was  shown  by  him  in  every  instance,  for 
the  suffering  Mexican  as  for  the  American  soldier. 
In  the  retreat  the  Mexican  generals  left  all  their  dead 
and  most  of  their  wounded  on  the  field  of  battle,  either 
from  confidence  in  the  humane  character  of  General 
Taylor,  or  out  of  a  naturally  cruel  disposition  ;  probably 
from  a  mingling  of  both  considerations.  They  did 
not  rely  in  vain  upon  the  American  commander. 

Soon  after  the  engagement  an  exchange  of  prisoners* 
nad  been  proposed  by  General  Arista,  to  which  Gen 
eral  Taylor  cheerfully  assented.  The  American  pris- 


ANECDOTE  OF  GENERAL  TAYLOR.         177 

oners  at  Matamoras  were,  accordingly,  taken  across 
the  river  on  the  llth,  and  exchanged,  man  for  man,  for 
Mexican  prisoners  of  the  same  rank.  Amongst  the 
Americans  exchanged,  were  Captains  Thornton  and 
Hardee,  and  Lieutenant  Lane.  On  the  morning  of  the 
same  day  General  Taylor  started  for  Point  Isabel,  for 
the  purpose  of  securing  a  communication  with  Commo 
dore  Conner.  Inmediately  upon  his  arrival  at  Point 
Isabel,  they  had  an  interview  which  is  thus  humorously 
described  in  the  work  so  often  before  quoted : — 

The  singular  simplicity  that  marks  General  Taylor's 
personal  appearance  and  habits,  has  become  a  subject 
of  universal  fame.  It  is  curious  that  a  soldier,  so  emi 
nent  in  all  the  qualities  of  discipline,  should  be  so  cit 
izen-looking  in  his  own  appearance.  Commodore  Con 
ner,  on  the  contrary,  is  an  officer  that  is  not  only  strict 
in  his  dress,  but  has  an  extra  nicety  about  it.  He  ap 
pears  in  full  and  splendid  uniform  on  all  public  occa 
sions,  being  the  exact  contrast,  in  this  particular,  of 
General  Taylor. 

At  the  proper  time,  Commodore  Conner  sent  word 
to  General  Taylor,  that  he  would  come  on  shore  to  pay 
him  a  visit  of  ceremony.  This  put  "  Old  Rough  and 
Ready"  into  a  tremendous  excitement.  If  Commodore 
Conner  had  quietly  come  up  to  his  tent,  ana  given  mm 
a  sailor's  grip,  and  sat  down  on  a  camp-chest,  and  talked 
over  matters  in  an  old-fashioned  way,  General  Taylor 
would  have  been  prepared  ;  but  to  have  the  most  care 
fully  dressed  officer  in  our  navy,  commanding  the  finest 
fleet,  come  in  full  uniform — surrounded  by  all  the  glit 
tering  pomp  of  splendid  equipments — to  pay  a  visit  of 
ceremony,  was  more  than  General  Taylor  had,  without 
some  effort,  nerve  to  go  through  with ;  but,  ever  equal 
to  all  emergencies,  he  determined  to  compliment  Co;n- 


178  A    DISAPPOINTMENT. 

modore  Conner,  and  through  him  the  navy,  by  appear 
ing  in  full  uniform,  a  thing  his  officers,  associated  with 
him  for  years,  had  never  witnessed. 

In  the  meanwhile,  Commodore  Conner  was  cogita 
ting  over  the  most  proper  way  to  compliment  Genera* 
Taylor.  Having  heard  of  his  peculiar  disregard  of 
military  dress,  he  concluded  he  would  make  the  visit 
in  a  manner  comporting  to  General  Taylor's  habits, 
and  consequently  equipped  himself  in  plain  white  dril 
ling,  and,  unattended,  came  ashore. 

The  moment  General  Taylor  heard  that  Commodore 
Conner  had  landed,  he  abandoned  some  heavy  work  he 
was  personally  attending  to  about  the  camp,  and  pre 
cipitately  rushed  into  his  tent,  delved  at  the  bottom  of 
an  old  chest,  and  pulled  out  a  uniform  coat,  that  had 
peacefully  slumbered  for  years  in  undisturbed  quietude, 
slipped  himself  into  it,  in  his  haste  fastening  it  so  that 
one  side  of  the  standing  collar  was  three  button-holes 
above  the  other,  and  sat  himself  clown  as  uncomfortably 
as  can  well  be  imagined.  With  quiet  step,  and  unat 
tended,  Commodore  Conner  presented  himself  at  Gen 
eral  Taylor's  tent.  The  noble  representatives  of  the 
army  and  navy  shook  hands,  both  in  exceeding  aston 
ishment  at  each  other's  personal  appearance. 

The  wags  of  the  army  say  that  the  above  contains 
the  only  authentic  account  of  General  Taylor's  ever 
being  "  headed,"  and  that  since  that  time,  he  has  taken 
to  linen  roundabouts  of  the  largest  dimensions  with 
more  pertinacity  than  ever. 


COMMODORE   CONNER. 


CHAPTER  VI. 

Barita  Captured. — Surrender  of  Matamoras. — General  Taylor  in  Mata> 
moras.— A  Treacherous  Mexican  Official. — Pursuit  of  Arista's  Army. 
— Some  of  tne  Horrors  of  War. — Sad  End  to  Dreams  of  Mexican 
Glory. — General  Taylor  Reinforced. — His  March  to  Monterey,  and 
arrival  there. — Strength  of  the  City. — The  Preparations  for  its  de 
fence. — Attacked  by  the  Americans. — Stormed. — Capitulation  and 
Terms. — Gallant  Conduct  of  the  American  Officers  and  Soldiers. — 
Comparative  Strength  of  the  two  Forces. — American  Loss  in  the 
Attack. 

HAVING  arranged  with  Commodore  Conner  the  plan 
of  an  attack  on  Barita,  a  small  village  near  the  mouth  of 
the  Rio  Grande,  a  force  consisting  of  four  companies  of 
United  States  troops,  under  Lieutenant-Colonel  Wilson, 
First  infantry,  two  companies  of  Louisiana  volunteers, 
under  Captains  Stockton  and  Tobin,  and  one  company 
of  Alabama  volunteers,  under  General  Desha,  w^ere  de 
tached  to  capture  that  place.  On  the  15th  of  May,  the 
command  landed  at  Brazos  and  immediately  took  up 
their  march,  a  portion  of  Commodore  Conner's  fleet 
co-operating  with  the  land-force.  There  being  no  re 
sistance  on  the  part  of  the  Mexicans,  the  place  was 
taker,  possession  of  by  the  American  troops.  The  in 
habitants  fled  in  affright,  leaving  everything  at  the 
mercy  of  the  captors,  upon  their  first  approach.  The 
town  contains  a  custom-house,  but  was  only  important 
as  a  resting  place  for  such  of  our  forces  as  were  des 
tined  for  Matamoras. 


13 


180       PREPARATIONS    FOR    CAPTURING    MATAMORAS. 

On  the  evening  of  the  14th  of  May,  General  Taylor 
reached  his  camp  from  Point  Isabel,  and  determined  on 
an  immediate  attack  upon  Matamoras,  or  at  latest  by 
the  next  day.  His  preparations  for  the  attack,  how 
ever,  were  not  completed  until  the  17th.  But  on  the 
morning  of  that  day  everything  was  ready,  Colonel 
Wilson  having  been  ordered  to  march  from  Barita,  so 
as  to  reach  Matamoras  at  the  same  time  General  Tay 
lor  should  make  his  demonstration  against  the  city. 

Orders  had  been  given  to  Colonel  Twiggs  to  cross, 
when  General  Taylor  was  waited  on  by  the  Mexican 
general,  Reguena,  empowered  by  General  Arista  to  treat 
for  an  armistice,  until  the  two  governments  finally  set 
tled  the  difficulties  pending.  This  cunning,  on  the  part 
of  the  Mexican  chief,  was  too  apparent  to  General 
Taylor ;  he  was  aware  that  Matamoras  was  filled  with 
the  munitions  of  war,  and  time  was  only  wanted  to 
move  them  off.  General  Taylor  replied  to  General 
Reguena,  that  an  armistice  could  not  be  granted  ;  he  re 
capitulated  the  circumstances  of  the  preceding  month, 
when  he  had  himself  proposed  an  armistice,  which  Gen 
eral  Ampudia  had  declined.  He  stated  that  he  was  re 
ceiving  large  reinforcements — that  he  would  not  then 
suspend  hostilities  which  he  had  not  invited  nor  pro 
voked  ;  he  also  said  that  the  possession  of  Matamoras 
was  a  "  sine  qua  non,"  and  that  the  American  troops 
would  occupy  the  city,  at  the  same  time  giving  to  Gen 
eral  Arista  and  his  forces  leave  to  withdraw  from  the 
town,  leaving  behind  the  public  property  of  every  de 
scription.  General  Taylor  remarked,  that  "Generals 
Ampudia  and  Arista  had  promised  that  the  war  should 
be  conducted  agreeably  to  the  usage  of  civilized  na 
tions,  and  yet  the  Mexican  forces  had,  in  the  battles  of 
the  8th  and  9th,  stripped  our  dead,  and  mutilated  their 


NEGOTIATION    FOR    THE    SURRENDER.  181 

bodies."  General  Reguena  replied,  "  that  the  women  (!) 
and  rancheros  did  it,  and  that  they  could  not  be  con 
trolled."  General  Taylor  said  he  would  come  over  to 
Matamoras,  and  control  such  people  for  them. 

General  Reguena  then  left  General  Taylor,  pledging 
himself  that  at  three  o'clock  that  evening  he  would  come 
over  with  an  answer  from  General  Arista.  General 
Taylor,  accordingly,  for  the  time,  suspended  his  prepa 
rations  for  crossing.  Tjie  answer  promised  by  Reguena 
to  be  delivered  to  General  Taylor,  positively  at  three 
o'clock,  did  not  come.  General  Taylor  immediately 
ordered  pi  jparations  to  be  made  for  crossing  the  Rio 
Grande ;  parties  were  sent  up  and  down  the  river  to 
secure  all  the  boats  that  could  be  seen  on  either  side. 
That  night,  just  after  dark,  the  army  moved  up  the 
river,  and  encamped  opposite  the  contemplated  cross 
ing  place. 

On  the  morning  of  the  18th,  Captain  Bliss,  assistant 
adjutant-general  of  the  "  Army  of  Occupation,"  Major 
Craig,  Captain  Miles,  and  Lieutenant  Britton,  appeared 
on  the  batiks  of  the  Rio  Grande,  and  sounded  a  parley. 
Lieutenant  Britton  then  crossed  the  river  with  a  white 
flag,  and  met  a  deputation  of  citizens  from  the  prefect, 
who  was  the  official  civil  representative  of  the  city. 
The  deputation  wished  to  know  the  cause  of  the  parley  ? 
Lieutenant  Britton  replied,  that  Captain  Bliss,  aid  to 
the  commanding  general,  wished  to  see  the  prefect  in 
person,  or  whoever  was  the  commanding  officer  of  the 
city,  as  he  had  an  official  communication  for  him  from 
his  chief.  The  deputation  crossed  the  river  with  Lieu 
tenant  Britton,  met  Captain  Bliss,  and  invited  the  Amer 
ican  deputation  to  Matamoras.  They  immediately 
crossed  over,  and  met  the  prefect  in  his  office,  which 
was  situated  on  the  northwest  side  of  the  Plaza.  Cap 


162  INTERVIEW    WITH    ^HE    PREFECT. 

tain  Bliss  then  delivered  to  the  prefect  a  letter  from 
General  Taylor,  which  demanded  a  surrender  of  the 
town  and  all  the  public  stores  tJterei?i,  stating,  at  the 
same  time,  that  his  general  had  commanded  him  to  say 
that  the  rights  of  individuals  should  be  protected,  that 
their  religion  should  be  respected,  and  that  their  courts 
of  law  and  justice  should  proceed  as  they  had  done  un 
der  the  Mexican  government,  unless  interfering  with 
che  rights  of  our  government,  and  the  necessary  opera 
tions  of  the  commanding  general.  Captain  Bliss  asked 
the  prefect  to  answer  in  positive  terms,  whether  he 
could  return  and  report  to  his  general  that  the  town 
would  be  given  up  without  a  blow,  or  whether  it  would 
be  necessary  to  carry  it  at  the  point  of  the  sword,  as  in 
either  emergency,  General  Taylor  was  determined  to 
have  it.  The  prefect  then  answered,  "  General  Taylor 
can  march  his  troops  into  the  city  at  any  hour  that  may 
suit  his  convenience."  Captain  Bliss  then  said,  "  here 
let  the  interview  terminate." 

While  this  conversation  was  going  on,  our  army  was 
crossing  above  the  city.  The  east  bank  was  defended 
by  two  eighteen-pounders,  and  the  three  batteries  of 
our  artillery.  Colonel  Twiggs  ordered  the  regimental 
kinds  to  strike  up  Yankee  Doodle.  The  light  com 
panies  of  all  battalions  first  went  over,  followed  by  the 
volunteer  and  regular  cavalry-  Lieutenant  Hays,  of 
the  Fourth  infantry,  and  ten  select  men,  with  Captain 
Walker,  of  the  Rangers,  first  crossed  the  river,  with 
orders  to  ascertain  and  report  the  number  and  position 
of  the  enemy,  if  near  the  river.  Immediately  after 
Lieutenant  Hays  had  gone  over,  the  flank  companies 
of  the  Third,  Fourth,  and  Fifth  infantry,  were  thrown 
across,  commanded  by  Captain  Buchanan  and  Captain 
Larned.  These  commands  were  followed  by  Captain 


OUR  TROOPS  CROSS  THE  RIVER.          183 

Smith,  of  the  Artillery  battalion,  with  two  companies, 
and  also  by  Captain  Ker's  squadron  of  dragoons.  After 
this  force  had  crossed,  Ridgeley's  artillery  was  dis 
mounted,  and  taken  over  in  parts.  In  the  meantime, 
the  infantry  already  over  had  taken  possession  of  a 
strong  place,  to  be  ready  for  an  attack.  In  the  midst 
of  these  busy  operations,  Captain  Bliss  arrived,  and  in 
formed  General  Taylor  of  his  interview  with  the  pre 
fect,  and  of  the  unconditional  surrender  of  the  town. 
General  Taylor  immediately  ordered  that  portion  of  the 
American  forces  that  had  not  crossed  the  river,  to  re 
turn  to  Fort  Brown  and  cross  there.  Captain  Ker,  of 
the  Dragoons,  passed  below  where  the  troops  were 
crossing,  and  raised  upon  the  walls  of  Fort  Parades, 
the  star-spangled  banner,  unfolding  it  in  proud  defiance 
upon  the  west  side  of  the  Rio  Grande. 

The  different  regiments  already  on  the  west  side  of 
the  Rio  Grande  were  marched  to  their  respective  places 
of  encampment,  without  noise  or  disorder,  save  when 
the  flag  of  our  country  was  unexpectedly  seen  waving 
from  Fort  Parades  ;  discipline  then  gave  way  to  feel 
ing,  and  nine  hearty  cheers  rent  the  air,  and  announced 
the  occupation  of  Matamoras  by  American  troops. 
That  evening  a  small  guard  was  established  in  Mata 
moras,  to  keep  the  peace.  No  troops,  except  under 
command,  visited  it  that  night.  The  Matamorians  slept 
securely  under  the  protection  of  the  American  govern 
ment,  a  boon  ever  denied  them  by  their  own.  Upon 
inquiry,  it  became  evident  that  General  Reguena  had 
been  sent  over  to  General  Taylor  merely  to  gain  time  ; 
that,  even  while  he  wras  negotiating  for  the  surrender 
of  the  city,  Arista's  troops  were  throwing  the  public 
stores  into  the  river,  burying  pieces  of  artillery  in  wells, 
and  concealing  other  portions  of  the  public  stores  in 


184    DEATH  OF  LIEUTENANT  GEORGE  STEVENS. 

out-of-the  way  places  about  the  city.  Arista  com 
menced  his  retreat  on  the  evening  that  General  Reguena 
promised  to  bring  a  message  from  him  to  General  Tay 
lor,  taking  with  him  two  pieces  of  artillery,  and  over 
four  thousand  men^  leaving  behind  his  sick  and  wounded 

A  gloom  was  thrown  over  the  brilliant  events  of  this 
day  by  a  most  unfortunate  accident ;  Lieutenant  George 
Stevens,  a  graduate  of  West  Point  in  1843,  and  a  most 
promising  officer  in  the  second  dragoons,  was  swept  by 
the  swift  current  from  his  horse,  while  crossing  the 
river  at  the  head  of  his  command.  He  had  distin 
guished  himself  on  the  brilliant  days  of  the  8th  and 
9th,  and  his  untimely  death  was  universally  lamented. 
His  friends,  two  days  after  he  was  drowned,  had  the 
melancholy  satisfaction  of  recovering  his  body,  and 
giving  it  the  ceremonies  of  a  soldier's  burial  within  the 
walls  of  Fort  Brown,  beside  the  gallant  hero  that  gave 
it  his  name. 

Immediately  upon  taking  possession  of  Matamoras 
our  troops  were  distributed  so  as  to  occupy  the  upper 
and  lower  suburbs  of  the  town,  a  small  guard  only  being 
stationed  in  the  city  itself.  Colonel  Twiggs'  command 
was  stationed  above  the  city  along  the  banks  of  the 
river,  his  own  head-quarters  occupying  a  romantic 
spot  directly  on  its  brink.  General  Worth's  command 
was  located  in  the  bend  of  the  river  below,  having  a 
fine  view  from  his  tent,  and  Lieutenant-Colonel  Bel- 
knap's,  of  the  surrounding  country. 

Directly  opposite  Colonel  Belknap's,  were  to  be  seen 
a  few  torn  tents,  and  a  number  of  wiry-looking  horses. 
They  marked  the  head- quarters  of  Captain  Walker, 
of  the  Rangers.  From  Colonel  Tw7iggs'  tent  you  could 
see  the  volunteer  regiments  stretching  away  west  almost 
as  far  as  the  eve  could  reach,  centering  around  fhe 


THE    AMERICAN    ARMY    IX    MATAMORAS.  185 

Fanques  del  Raminero,  and  then  scattering  off  in  little 
groups.  The  Seventh  regiment  nestled  beneath  the 
walls  of  Fort  Brown,  which  they  had  so  nobly  de 
fended.  General  Taylor  found  a  few  trees  that  ap 
peared  to  be  higher  than  their  neighbors,  under  which 
he  pitched  his  "  head-quarters  ;"  they  could  only  be 
recognized  from  the  tents  about  them  by  their  disposi 
tion — they  were  arranged  for  shade  and  not  with  mili 
tary  precision. 

Colonel  Twiggs  was  appointed  "  Governor  of  the 
Town,"  and  to  his  especial  care  was  intrusted  the  tak 
ing  possession  of  the  military  stores  left  by  the  Mexi 
can  Army.  Don  Jose  Cardenas,  the  prefect  of  Mata- 
moras  at  the  time  General  Taylor  took  possession,  was 
distinguished  among  his  fellow-citizens  for  oppression, 
and  for  his  hatred  to  foreigners.  In  surrendering  the 
city  the  prefect's  only  care  was  to  know  if  he  could 
retain  his  office.  He  never  stipulated  for  any  privileges 
for  the  citizens,  or  seemed  in  any  way  to  think  of  their 
interests.  Immediately  upon  Colonel  Twiggs  taking 
command,  he  sent  for  this  notable  Cardenas,  and  asked 
him  for  an  inventory  of  the  public  property.  He  stated, 
positively,  that  he  knew  of  none,  and  persisted  in  de 
claring  that  none  was  left  b/  the  Mexican  forces  wher 
they  evacuated  the  city.  Colonel  Twiggs  dismissed 
him,  and  entering  the  city,  with  information  obtained 
from  other  quarters,  soon  began  to  find  vast  quantities 
of  military  stores,  in  almost  all  of  the  out-of-the-way 
places  about  the  Plaza. 

This  outrageous  trifling  on  the  part  or  the  pr»f<n,i 
Colonel  Twiggs  was  determined  to  notice.  Accordingly 
he  waited  upon  him  the  following  morning  at  his  office, 
to  give  'he  gentleman  what  is  denominated  a  "  plain 
talk."  The  colonel  labored  under  one  difficulty — elo- 


186  A    MERCENARY    OFFICIAL. 

quent  himself,  it  was  a  great  drawback  to  have  it 
marred  by  an  indifferent  translator.  Fortunately,  an 
American  citizen  by  the  name  of  Dugden,  a  very  intel 
ligent  gentleman  of  Matamoras,  and  an  object  of  the 
prefect's  special  oppression,  offered  his  services  as  an 
interpreter.  "  I  wish  to  give  the  falsifying  prefect  a 
proper  notion  of  his  conduct,"  said  the  colonel,  with  a 
variety  of  explicatures.  "  Can  you,  Mr.  Dugden,  do 
justice  to  what  I  say  ?"  Mr.  Dugden  assented,  and  the 
"  Governor"  laid  down  the  first  paragraph  of  his  lecture 
in  English.  Dugden  did  justice  to  what  was  said,  and, 
it  was  thought,  added  a  little  on  his  own  responsibility, 
much  to  the  gratification  of  the  governor. 

The  prefect,  bearded  in  his  own  den,  began  to  turn 
a  variety  of  colors  :  his  consternation  increased,  as  the 
citizens  of  the  town  crowded  into  his  office,  and,  by  the 
wildest  expressions  of  delight,  testified  their  pleasure 
at  what  was  going  on.  The  prefect  literally  trembled 
in  his  shoes,  and  promised  to  act  better,  and  honestly 
point  out  the  hidden  treasures.  But  he  prevaricated 
so  constantly,  that  he  was  finally  dismissed,  and  ejected 
from  the  shadow  of  the  office  he  still  held,  and  he  left 
the  city,  it  was  supposed  to  join  Arista  or  some  other 
general  in  the  interior. 

The  day  following  the  taking  of  Matamoras,  Lieu 
tenant-Colonel  Garland,  with  all  the  regular  and  irre 
gular  cavalry  of  the  army,  about  two  hundred  and  fifty 
dragoons  and  rangers,  started  in  pursuit  of  the  retreat 
ing  Mexicans,  \vith  orders  to  harass  their  rear,  and  to 
capture  prisoners  arid  baggage.  On  the  22d,  Colonel 
Garland  returned  from  his  pursuit.  He  succeeded  in 
capturing  a  small  rear  party,  after  a  slight  show  of  re 
sistance  on  their  part,  in  which  two  Mexicans  were 
killed,  twenty-two  taken  prisoners,  and  one  wagou 


PURSUIT    OF    THE    FLYIXG    MEXICANS.  187 

with  ammunition  and  clothing  of  an  artillery  com 
pany  captured.  Two  of  our  own  troops  were  slightly 
wounded.  The  scarcity  of  water,  the  barrenness 
of  the  country,  and  the  condition  of  the  horses,  com 
pelled  Colonel  Garland  to  return  to  Matamoras,  after 
having  penetrated  over  sixty  miles  into  the  enemy's 
country. 

The  army  of  the  Mexicans,  under  General  Arista, 
was  but  twenty-four  hours  ahead  of  our  cavalry,  re 
treating  in  good  order — our  officers  stopping  at  the 
ranches  where  the  enemy  had,  the  night  previous.  A 
ranchero,  at  one  of  these  stopping  places,  inquired  with 
great  simplicity  of  Captain  Graham,  where  the  Ameri 
cans  were  going.  He  was  told  in  pursuit  of  the  re 
treating  Mexican  army.  "  Retreating  army !"  said  the 
fellow,  with  astonishment ;  "  why,  General  Ampudia 
stopped  at  my  house  last  night,  and  said  that  his  troops 
had  conquered  the  Americans,  and  that  he  was  now 
on  his  way  to  Mexico  to  take  the  news/'  The  man 
was  confounded,  for  it  was  impossible  for  him  to  be 
lieve  his  nation  had  been  whipped  in  battle,  and  still 
more  incomprehensible  that  a  small  number  of  Ameri 
can  dragoons  should  seriously,  and  for  purposes  of 
war,  really  drive  before  them  over  three  thousand 
troops. 

For  several  successive  days  after  the  precipitate  re 
treat  of  the  -Mexicans,  the  bodies  of  dro\vned  Mexican 
soldiers  were  thrown  ashore  by  the  current  of  the  river. 
Among  the  mass,  were  distinguishable  several  officers. 
Arista,  in  his  official  dispatch,  mentions  two  who  thus 
met  their  death.  The  body  of  Father  Leary  was  taken 
out  of  the  water  near  the  fort,  his  canonicals  still  on, 
and  his  cross  clutched  tightly  in  his  hand.  As  the  Rio 
Grande  fell,  it  left  suspended  to  the  overhanging  trees, 


188        SAD  END  OF  LOFTY  EXPECTATIONS. 

the  bodies  caught  in  the  meshes  of  their  branches; 
thus  they  hung  in  the  air,  until  they  dropped  piecemeal 
into  the  water  below.  The  very  river  itself,  for  a  while, 
became  offensive ;  mutilated  corpses  floated  along,  at 
tacked  by  the  voracious  catfish,  causing  them  to  twitch 
and  roll  about,  as  if  still  in  the  agonies  of  death. 

On  the  battle-fields,  more  glaringly  horrible  effects  of 
war  were  presented;  in  the  lone  places  in  the  deep 
chapparal,  lay  the  mouldering  bodies  of  those  of  the 
wounded  who  had  crawled  away  to  die.  Buzzards  and 
carrion  crows  wheeled  in  eccentric  circles  over  these 
unmade  graves ;  beetles  and  foul  insects  burrowed  be 
neath  them ;  jackals,  at  night,  dug  their  way  into  the 
mounds  of  the  dead,  exposing  the  interior  corruption 
to  the  passer-by.  The  descending  rains  would  beat 
down  the  arch  made  by  these  desecrations,  and  the  pile 
.narking  where  a  hundred  Mexicans  lay,  gradually  sunk, 
until  it  seemed  as  if  the  remains  of  so  many  human  be 
ings  scarcely  disfigured  the  surface  of  the  earth.  When 
a  few  months,  or  years  shall  have  passed  away,  all  ves 
tiges  will  be  gone.  The  result  of  so  great  a  sacrifice, 
will  be  the  memory  of  a  few  glorious  deeds  ;  the  suffer 
ing,  the  sin,  the  dreadful  offences  in  the  sight  of  heaven, 
will  only  have  permanent  record  in  another  world. 

With  the  return  of  Lieutenant-Colonel  Garland's 
command  from  the  pursuit  of  the  fugitive  Mexican 
army  under  General  Arista,  ended  the  first  great  act  in 
the  history  of  the  operations  of  our  army  on  the  Rio 
Grande,  and  with  the  capture  of  Matamoras,  terminated 
all  immediate  prospect  of  fighting.  The  Mexican  army 
was  almost  literally  annihilated,  and  the  broken  frag 
ments  were  fleeing  for  safety  from  our  victorious  troops. 
That  proud  and  confident  army  of  more  than  eight 
thousand  of  the  best  troops  of  Mexico,  which  but  a  few 


CONDITION    OF    AFFAIRS    AT    MATAMORA3.  189 

days  before,  had  marched  into  Matamoras  without  a 
doubt  that  the  Americans  would  fall  an  easy  prey  to 
their  arms,  and  whose  victory  magnificent  preparations 
for  celebrating  had  been  made  in  advance— this  army, 
so  certain  of  victory,  and  so  superior  to  General  Tay 
lor's,  had  been  cut  to  pieces,  and  driven  in  confusion 
from  the  Rio  Grande.  The  country  had  been  com 
pletely  subdued  in  a  little  more  than  six  weeks  from  the 
day  our  army  reached  the  point,  opposite  Matamoras 
now  occupied  by  Fort  Brown.  The  condition  of  Mat 
amoras  and  the  state  of  affairs  immediately  following 
the  occupancy  of  the  city,  by  General  Taylor,  is  thus 
described  by  an  American  who  visited  the  scene  of 
operations  : — 

"  I  arrived  here  yesterday  morning,  on  the  steamer 
Florida,  after  a  passage  of  eight  days,  and  find  that  the 
news  of  the  taking  of  Matamoras  was  carried  from 
here  a  week  ago.  There  is  nothing  occurring  here  now 
of  stirring  interest,  the  righting  having  ceased,  for  some 
weeks  to  come  at  least,  and  I  am  inclined  to  think  that 
there  will  be  no  more  of  it  on  the  Rio  Grande.  Our 
army  must  seek  the  enemy  in  their  own  country  if  they 
desire  to  meet  them  in  any  considerable  bodies.  Am- 
pudia's  defeat  on  the  8th  and  9th,  has  ruined  the  Mex 
ican  army  now  in  the  north.  They  have  lost  every 
thing,  mules,  pack-saddles,  ammunition,  arms,  and  men 
enough  to  strike  terror  to  their  hearts.  Fort  Polk,  as 
this  point  is  now  called,  is  a  complete  museum  at  the 
present  moment,  with  its  Mexican  booty — Mexican 
prisoners,  mules,  lances,  saddles  curiously  wrought, 
leather  pack-saddles,  huge  saddle-bags,  muskets,  ord 
nance,  drums,  copper  cannon  balls,  grape-shot,  letters, 
-And  all  kinds  of  documents  picked  up  on  the  ground 
where  Ampudia  was  encamped.  One  of  the  officers, 


190  WOUNDED    AMERICAN    OFFICERS. 

who  was  in  the  two  engagements,  says  that  the  supper 
which  the  Mexicans  had,  in  their  confidence  prepared 
for  themselves,  and  which  they  were  obliged  so  sud 
denly  to  abandon,  afforded  a  rich  repast  to  our  tired 
and  hungry  officers  and  men.  He  pronounces  their 
liquors,  chocolate,  soups,  roast  beef,  &c.,  to  have  been 
first  rate.  Ampudia's  plate,  which  was  valuable,  was 
promptly  returned  to  him.  Most  of  the  wounded  have 
been  sent  to  Corpus  Christi,  but  there  are  still  enough 
here  to  represent  most  painfully  the  sad  results  of  war. 
Captain  Page,  whose  under  jaw  was  completely  shot 
away,  is  in  a  fair  way  of  recovering.  Captain  Hooe  is 
walking  about  with  the  stump  of  his  right  arm  dangling 
by  his  side,  and  appears  to  be  in  excellent  humor. 
Colonel  Mclntosh,  who  was  badly  wounded,  was 
stretched  out  yesterday  in  a  Mexican  wagon,  trying  to 
read.  He  was  stabbed  in  the  throat,  or  rather  down 
the  throat,  in  the  neck,  and  in  other  parts  of  the  body* 
and  was  repeatedly  knocked  down  in  the  fight.  Lieu 
tenant  Maclay,  who  was  wounded  in  the  action  of  the 
9th,  is  here,  with  an  awfully  sore  shin,  across  which  a 
Mexican  grape-shot  passed,  shaving  a  little  closer  than 
was  safe,  as  it  carried  with  it  a  slice  of  bone  and  sinew. 
Instances  of  individual  heroism  occurred  at  those  two 
engagements  which  would  have  immortalized  a  Spartan. 
"  Volunteers  are  gathering  here  in  crowds.  Yester 
day  the  Ondiaka,  Mary  Kingsland,  Florida,  and  Orleans 
arrived  with  troops  from  New  Orleans.  A  company 
of  Texas  rangers  came  down  to  Padre  Island,  and  were 
crossing  over  last  evening.  Some  are  encamped  near 
the  fort,  on'  the  prairie,  and  six  companies  of  Louisiana 
volunteers  are  encamped  on  the  Point,  three  miles  and 
a  half  distant,  at  the  bar.  I  had  the  pleasure,  yesterday, 
of  meeting  Genera]  Memucan  Hunt,  of  the  Texan  vol- 


GENERAL    TAYLOR    REINFORCED.  19l 

unteers.  The  general  looks  well,  and  is  anxious  to  be 
on  the  field.  His  men  are  hardy-looking  fellows.  All 
they  pray  for  is  to  be  permitted  to  go  out  through  the 
interior,  as  our  army  marches  on  towards  Mexico,  and 
to  take  such  towns  as  they  can  reach.  Their  knowl 
edge  of  the  country,  their  hardihood  and  experience  in 
fighting  Mexicans,  fit  them  peculiarly  for  such  service. 

"  There  are  more  than  twenty  vessels  lying  here, 
inside  and  outside  of  the  bar — one  frigate  of  war,  and 
the  balance  transports  and  trading  vessels.  The  Flo 
rida  drew  less  than  seven  feet,  and  bumped  heavily  on 
the  bar  as  she  came  over  yesterday  morning.  The  sut 
lers  put  the  screws  to  the  poor  soldiers  here  at  a  cruel 
rate,  in  the  way  of  charges.  It  is  really  outrageous, 
and  should  be  looked  to  by  those  in  power." 

But  owing  to  General  Taylor's  deficiencies  in  troops, 
supplies  and  means  of  transportation,  he  was  unable 
to  follow  up  his  advantages  by  a  §prompt  movement 
upon  Monterey,  before  the  enemy  had  time  to  recover 
from  the  effects  of  their  late  disastrous  defeat,  and 
recruit  another  army  sufficiently  strong  to  dispute  his 
further  progress.  He  was  consequently  compelled  to 
remain  in  comparative  inactivity  at  Matamoras,  wait 
ing  for  reinforcements  and  wagons,  until  the  5th  of 
August,  nearly  three  months  after  the  defeat  of  the 
Mexican  army.  He  had,  however,  received  by  the 
end  of  June  large  reinforcements,  but  not  the  means  of 
transportation.  If  it  had  been  in  the  power  of  Taylor 
to  have  marched  to  Monterey  and  attacked  it  while  the 
Mexicans  were  panic  struck  by  their  recent  decisive 
overthrow,  that  important  city  would  have  fallen  into, 
his  hands  almost  without  resistance.  But  circumstan 
ces  beyond  his  control  rendered  this  impossible,  and  he 
was  left  no  other  alternative  than  quietly  to  wait  fo/ 


192   REORGANIZATION  OF  THE  MEXICAN  GOVERNMENT. 

the  means  of  making  a  forward  movement.  Small  ex 
peditions,  however,  were  sent  against  several  Mexican 
towns.  Amongst  others,  Captain  McCulloch  captured 
Camargo,  Mier  and  Reynosa. 

While  the  Mexicans  were  suffering  defeat  abroad, 
they  were  threatened  with  a  more  serious  enemy  at 
home,  and  they  seemed  on  the  eve  of  another  of  those 
periodical  revolutions  which  have  distracted  that 
wretched  country  for  the  last  twenty  years.  Misfor 
tune  being  considered  a  crime  by  her  rulers,  Parades, 
the  President,  superseded  and  recalled  the  defeated 
generals,  with  the  view  of  punishing  them  for  not 
wringing  a  victory  from  the  Americans  in  spite  of  fate. 
But  Arista  was  determined  not  to  trust  himself  in  the 
hands  of  his  government,  and  began  to  organize  an 
insurrectionary  army,  with  which  to  dispute  the  autho 
rity  of  the  President  of  the  Republic.  Parades  was 
re-elected,  however,  on  the  16th  of  June,  1846,  which 
put  an  end,  for  a  time,  to  the  rebellious  symptoms  of  the 
refractory  general.  Upon  the  re-organization  of  the 
new  government,  Aravalo  was  sent  to  Monterey  to 
supersede  Arista,  and  Ampudia  to  San  Luis  Potosi. 

Active  preparations  \vere  at  once  entered  into  for 
strongly  fortifying  Monterey  upon  the  arrival  of  the 
new  commander,  and  even  before.  Expecting  that 
it  would  be  the  next  to  be  attacked  after  the  fall  of 
Matamoras,  every  means  were  immediately  put  in  re 
quisition  to  place  it  in  a  complete  state  of  defence.  It 
was  naturally  one  of  the  very  strongest  places  in  Mexico. 
During  the  war  for  the  independence  of  Mexico  from 
the  Spanish  yoke,  this  city  was  held  by  few  Mexican 
troops  for  ten  years,  against  the  whole  Spanish  power. 
These  natural  advantages  had  been  greatly  improved 
by  artificial  defences,  and  the  town  was  considered  im- 


GENERAL    TAILOR    MARCHES    FOR    MONTEREY.        193 

pregnable.  The  only  access  to  the  city  for  an  invading 
army,  is  up  steep  and  rugged  acclivities,  every  inch  of 
which  could  be  swept  by  the  guns  of  the  fortifications. 
And  it  seemed  like  walking  into  the  very  jaws  of  death 
to  attempt  to  storm  it.  Yet  all  these  things  did  not 
for  an  instant  deter  General  Taylor  from  his  contem 
plated  attack  upon  this  strong-hold  of  Mexico. 

Near  the  end  of  August,  accordingly,  General  Worth 
was  ordered  to  advance  to  Seralvo,  and  there  await 
further  instructions.  Having  ascertained  at  this  place 
that  Monterey  had  been  reinforced  by  three  thousand 
men  under  the  command  of  General  Ampudia,  he 
advised  General  Taylor  of  the  movement.  This  rein 
forcement  increased  the  force  of  the  garrison  to  ten 
thousand  men,  and  decided  him  in  his  determination 
to  move  on  without  further  delay  to  Monterey,  and 
attack  it  at  once.  He  therefore  marched  from  Mata- 
moras  on  the  7th  of  September,  leaving  General  Pat 
terson  in  command  of  that  city,  and  all  the  forces 
between  it  and  Camargo. 

Leaving  behind  everything  not  absolutely  necessary 
in  the  proposed  attack,  and  calculated  to  impede  his 
movements,  he  sent  forward  to  Seralvo  such  supplies 
as  were  immediately  required  for  the  subsistence  of  his 
troops,  and  then  hastened  rapidly  forward  himself  to 
the  same  place.  He  did  not  long  wait  for  reinforce 
ments,  however,  notwithstanding  his  army  was  con 
sidered  by  those  who  knew  the  strength  of  Monterey, 
so  inadequate  to  the  dangerous  and  difficult  enterprise. 
His  force  did  not  much  exceed  six  thousand  men, 
while  the  city  was  garrisoned  by  ten  thousand  men 
at  least.  But  hastily  completing  his  arrangements,  he 
moved  on  towards  the  devoted  city  of  his  destination, 
with  all  possible  speed.  Occasional  attempts  were 


194  HIS    ARRIVAL    THERE. 

made  to  obstruct  his  passage  by  small  skirmishing 
parties.  But  no  serious  opposition  was  offered.  He 
ascertained  from  deserters  from  Monterey,  that  prepara 
tions  for  a  desperate  resistance  were  going  on  with 
much  activity,  and  everything  indicated  that  the  city 
would  be  defended  with  great  resolution.  This  infor 
mation,  however,  only  had  the  tendency  to  hasten  his 
movements,  not  only  from  the  eagerness  of  himself  and 
men  to  signalize  themselves  after  so  long  a  period  of 
comparative  inactivity,  but  to  make  the  attack  before 
the  enemy  had  time  to  complete  their  defences. 

After  a  march  of  twelve  days,  from  the  time  he  left 
Matamoras,  he  arrived  at  the  Walnut  Springs,  a  delight 
ful  position,  within  three  miles  of  the  city,  and  encamped 
there  on  the  morning  of  the  19th  of  September.  From 
this  position  he  had  an  unobstructed  view  of  the  city 
of  Monterey.  It  is  situated  in  a  beautiful  valley,  a 
part  of  which  is  extremely  fertile,  and  highly  cultiva 
ted.  Almost  all  tropical  fruits  grow  there  in  abun 
dance.  It  is  situated  amidst  lofty  mountains  on  three 
sides  and  an  open  valley  on  the  other,  "  and  fortified 
tvith  thick  stone  walls  in  the  old  Spanish  style,  with 
ditches  and  bastions,  and  bristling  with  cannon.  The 
flat-roofed  houses  were  all  converted  into  fortifications, 
every  street  was  barricaded,  and  every  house  was 
bristling  with  musketry."  On  one  side  was  the  Bishop's 
Palace,  an  extremely  strong  and  well  fortified  fort ;  on 
the  other  were  redoubts,  and  in  the  rear  a  river.  Be 
sides  its  garrison  of  ten  thousand  men,  it  contained 
a  population  of  fifteen  thousand,  which  could  supply 
nearly  three  thousand  volunteers.  Thus  the  Mexican 
force  was,  in  reality,  but  little  if  any  short  of  thirteen 
thousand  men  for  its  defence,  whilst  the  force  of  Gen 
eral  Taylor  was  less  than  seven  thousand  men ;  when 


ENCAMPS    AT    WALNUT    SPRINGS.  195 

in  reality  the  besieging  force  should  at  least  be  double 
the  beseiged,  in  order  to  approach  near  an  equality 
of  strength.  The  reader  will  understand  from  this 
brief  description  of  the  city  which  the  American  force 
under  Taylor  were  about  to  attack,  the  dangers  of  the 
attempt,  and  the  almost  overwhelming  disadvantages 
wrhich  he  had  to  fight  against. 

After  establishing  his  camp  at  Walnut  Springs,  the 
nearest  suitable  position  to  Monterey,  General  Taylor 
ordered  a  reconnoissance  of  the  ground  in  question, 
which  was  executed  on  the  evening  of  the  19th,  by  the 
engineer  officers,  under  Major  Mansfield.  A  recon 
noissance  of  the  eastern  approaches  was  at  the  same 
time  made  by  Captain  Williams,  topographical  en 
gineers.  The  examination  made  by  Major  Mansfield 
proved  the  entire  practicability  of  throwing  forward  a 
column  to  the  Saltillo  road,  and  thus  turning  the  posi 
tion  of  the  enemy.  Deeming  this  to  be  an  operation 
of  essential  importance,  orders  were  given  to  Brevet- 
Brigadier-General  Worth,  commanding  the  Second 
division,  to  march  with  his  command  on  the  20th ;  to 
turn  the  hill  of  the  Bishop's  Palace  ;  to  occupy  a  posi 
tion  on  the  Saltillo  road,  and  carry  the  enemy's  de 
tached  works  in  that  quarter,  where  practicable.  The 
First  regiment  of  Texan  mounted  volunteers,  under 
command  of  Colonal  Hays,  was  associated  with  the 
Second  division  on  this  service.  Captain  Sanders, 
engineers,  and  Lieutenant  Meade,  topographical  en 
gineers,  were  also  ordered  to  report  to  General  Worth, 
for  duty  with  his  column. 

At  two  o'clock,  P.  M.  on  the  29th,  the  Second  divi 
sion  took  up  its  march.  It  was  soon  discovered,  by 
officers  who  were  reconnoitring  the  town,  and  com 
municated  to  General  Worth,  that  its  movement  had 


14 


^96  PREPARATIONS    FOR    THE    ATTACK. 

been  perceived,  and  that  the  enemy  was  throwing  re 
inforcements  towards  the  Bishop's  Palace,  and  the 
height  which  commands  it.  To  divert  his  attention, 
as  far  as  practicable,  the  First  division,  under  Brigadier- 
General  Twiggs,  and  field  division  of  volunteers,  under 
Major-General  Butler,  were  displayed  in  front  of  the 
town,  until  dark.  Arrangements  were  made  at  the 
same  time  to  place  a  battery,  during  the  night,  at  a 
suitable  distance  from  the  enemy's  main  work,  the 
citadel, — two  twenty-four  pounders  and  a  ten  inch 
mortar,  with  a  view  to  open  a  fire  on  the  following  day, 
when  General  Taylor  proposed  to  make  a  diversion  in 
favor  of  General  Worth's  movement.  The  Fourth 
infantry  covered  this  battery  during  the  night.  Gen 
eral  Worth  had  in  the  meantime  reached  and  occupied, 
for  the  night,  a  defensive  position  just  without  range 
of  a  battery  above  the  Bishop's  Palace,  having  made 
a  reconnoissance  as  far  as  the  Saltillo  road. 

Early  on  the  morning  of  the  21st,  General  Taylor 
received  a  note  from  General  Worth,  written  at  half- 
past  nine  o'clock  the  night  before,  suggesting  a  strong 
diversion  against  the  centre  and  left  of  the  town,  to 
favor  his  enterprise  against  the  heights  in  rear.  The 
;nfantry  and  artillery  of  the  First  division,  and  the 
field  division  of  volunteers,  \vere  ordered  under  arms, 
and  took  the  direction  of  the  city,  leaving  one  company 
of  each  regiment  as  a  camp  guard.  The  Second 
dragoons,  under  Lieutenant-Colonel  May,  and  Colorel 
Wood's  regiment  of  Texas  mounted  volunteers,  under 
the  immediate  direction  of  General  Henderson,  were 
directed  to  the  right  to  support  General  Worth,  if 
necessary,  and  to  make  an  impression,  if  practicable, 
upon  the  upper  quarter  of  the  city.  Upon  approach 
ing  the  mortar  battery,  the  First  and  Third  regiments 


ATTACK  UPON  AN  ADVANCED  BATTERY.      197 

of  infantry,  and  battalion  of  Baltimore  and  Washing 
ton  volunteers,  with  Captain  Bragg's  field  battery — the 
whole  under  the  command  of  Lieutenant-Colonel  Gar 
land — were  directed  towards  the  lower  part  of  the 
town,  with  orders  to  make  a  strong  demonstration,  and 
carry  one  of  the  enemy's  advance  works,  if  it  could 
be  done  without  too  heavy  loss.  Major  Mansfield, 
engineer,  and  Captain  Williams  and  Lieutenant  Pope, 
topographical  engineers,  accompanied  this  column, 
Major  Mansfield  being  charged  with  its  direction,  and 
the  designation  of  points  to  attack. 

In  the  meantime,  the  mortar,  served  by  Captain 
Ramsay,  of  the  ordnance,  and  the  howitzer  battery 
under  Captain  Webster,  First  artillery,  had  opened 
their  fire  upon  the  citadel,  which  was  deliberately  sus 
tained,  and  answered  from  the  work.  General  Butler's 
division  had  now  taken  up  a  position  in  rear  of  this 
battery,  when  the  discharges  of  artillery,  mingled  with 
a  rapid  fire  of  small-arms,  showed  that  Lieutenant- 
Colonel  Garland's  command  had  become  \varmly  en 
gaged.  General  Taylor  now  deemed  it  necessary  to 
support  this  attack,  and  he  accordingly  ordered  the 
Fourth  infantry,  and  three  regiments  of  General  But 
ler's  division,  to  march  at  once,  by  the  left  flank,  in  the 
direction  of  the  advance  work  at  the  lower  extremity 
of  the  town,  leaving  the  First  regiment  of  Kentucky 
volunteers  to  cover  the  mortar  and  howitzer  battery. 
By  some  mistake,  two  companies  of  the  Fourth  infan 
try  did  not  receive  this  order,  and  consequently,  did 
not  join  the  advance  companies,  until  some  time  after 
wards. 

Lieutenant-Colonel  Garland's  command  had  ap 
proached  the  town  in  a  direction  to  the  right  of  the 
advance  work,  at  the  north-eastern  angle  of  the  city, 


198       GARLAND'S  COMMAND  ENTER  THE  TOWJV. 

and  the  engineer  officer,  covered  by  skirmishers,  had 
succeeded  in  entering  the  suburbs  and  gaining  cover. 
The  remainder  of  this  command  now  advanced  and 
entered  the  town  under  a  heavy  fire  of  artillery  from 
the  citadel  and  the  works  on  the  left,  and  of  musketry 
from  the  houses  and  small  works  in  front.  A  move 
ment  to  the  right  was  attempted,  with  a  view  to  gain 
the  rear  of  this  advance  work  and  to  carry  it,  but  the 
troops  were  so  much  exposed  to  a  fire  which  they 
could  not  effectually  return,  and  had  sustained  such 
severe  loss,  particularly  in  officers,  that  it  was  deemed 
best  by  General  Taylor  to  withdraw  them  to  a  more 
secure  position.  Captnin  Backus,  of  the  First  infantry, 
however,  with  a  portion  of  his  own  and  other  com 
panies,  had  gained  the  roof  of  a  tannery,  which  looked 
directly  into  the  gorge  of  the  enemy's  advance  battery, 
and  from  wrhich  he  poured  a  most  destructive  fire  into 
that  work,  and  upon  the  strong  building  in  its  rear. 
This  fire  happily  coincided,  in  point  of  time,  with  the 
advance  of  a  portion  of  the  volunteer  division  upon 
the  same  battery,  and  contributed  largely  to  the  fall  of 
that  strong  and  important  work. 

The  threet  regiments  of  the  volunteer  division,  under 
the  immediate  command  of  Major-General  Butler,  had 
in  the  meantime  advanced  in  the  direction  of  this 
work.  The  leading  brigade,  under  Brigadier-General 
Quitman,  continued  its  advance  upon  that  work,  pre 
ceded  by  three  companies  of  the  Fourth  infantry, 
while  General  Butler,  with  the  First  Ohio  regiment  of 
volunteers  entered  the  town  to  the  right.  The  com 
panies  of  the  Fourth  infantry  had  advanced  within 
short  range  of  the  work,  when  they  were  received  by* 
a  fire  that  almost  in  one  moment  struck  down  one-third 
of  the  officers  and  men,  and  rendered  it  necessary  to 


CHARGE  UPON  THE  SECOND  BATTERY.      201 

retire  and  effect  a  conjunction  with  the  two  other  com 
panies  then  advancing.  General  Quitman's  brigade, 
though  suffering  most  severely,  particularly  in  the  Ten 
nessee  regiment,  continued  its  advance,  and  finally  car 
ried  the  work  in  handsome  style,  as  well  as  the  strong 
building  in  its  rear.  Five  pieces  of  artillery,  a  consid 
erable  supply  of  ammunition,  and  thirty  prisoners,  in 
cluding  three  officers,  fell  into  our  hands. 

Major-General  Butler,  with  the  First  Ohio  regiment, 
after  entering  the  edge  of  the  town,  discovered  that 
nothing  was  to  be  accomplished  in  his  front,  and  at 
this  point,  yielding  to  the  suggestions  of  several  officers, 
General  Taylor  ordered  a  retrograde  movement ;  but 
learning  almost  immediately  from  one  of  his  staff  that 
the  advance  battery  had  been  taken,  the  order  was 
countermanded,  and  he  determined  to  hold  the  battery 
and  defences  already  gained.  General  Butler,  with 
the  First  Ohio  regiment,  then  entered  the  town  at  a 
point  further  to  the  left,  and  marched  in  the  direction 
of  the  second  battery.  While  making  an  examination 
with  a  view  to  ascertain  the  possibility  of  carrying  this 
second  wTork  by  storm,  General  Butler  was  severely 
wounded,  and  soon  after  compelled,  to  quit  the  field. 
As  the  strength  of  the  battery,  and  the  heavy  musketry 
fire  flanking  the  approach,  rendered  it  impossible  to 
carry  it  without  great  loss,  the  First  Ohio  regiment 
was  withdrawn  from  the  town. 

Fragments  of  the  various  regiments  engaged  were 
now  under  cover  of  the  captured  battery,  and  some 
buildings  in  its  front,  and  on  the  right.  The  field  bat 
tery  of  Captains  Bragg  and  Ridgeley  was  also  par 
tially  covered  by  the  battery.  An  incessant  fire  was 
kept  upon  this  position  from  the  second  battery,  and 
other  works  on  its  right,  and  from  the  citadel  on  all  our 


202  A    FOOTHOLD    OBTAINED. 

approaches.  General  Twiggs  joined  General  Taylor 
at  this  point,  and  was  instrumental  in  causing  the  ar 
tillery  captured  from  the  enemy  to  be  placed  in  bat 
tery,  and  served  by  Captain  Ridgeley,  against  the 
Mexicans,  until  the  arrival  of  Captain  Webster's  how 
itzer  battery,  which  took  its  place.  In  the  meantime, 
the  commanding  general  directed  such  men  as  could  be 
collected  of  the  First,  Third  and  Fourth  regiments  and 
Baltimore  battalion,  to  enter  the  town,  penetrating  to 
the  right,  and  carry  the  second  battery  if  possible. 
This  command,  under  Lieutenant-Colonel  Garland, 
advanced  beyond  the  bridge  "  Purisima,"  when,  find 
ing  it  impracticable  to  gain  the  rear  of  the  second 
battery,  a  portion  of  it  sustained  themselves  for  some 
time  in  that  advanced  position ;  but  as  no  permanent 
impression  could  be  made  at  that  point,  and  the  main 
object  of  the  general  operation  had  been  effected,  the 
command,  including  a  section  of  Captain  Ridgeley 's 
battery,  which  had  joined  it,  was  withdrawn  to  the 
first  battery.  During  the  absence  of  this  column,  a 
demonstration  of  cavalry  was  reported  in  the  direction 
of  the  citadel.  Captain  Bragg,  who  was  at  hand,  im 
mediately  galloped  with  his  battery  to  a  suitable  posi 
tion,  from  which  a  few  discharges  effectually  dispersed 
the  enemy.  Captain  Miller,  First  infantry,  was  dis 
patched  with  a  mixed  command  to  support  the  battery 
on  this  service.  The  enemy's  lancers  had  previously 
charged  upon  the  Ohio  and  a  part  of  the  Mississippi 
regiments,  near  some  fields  at  a  distance  from  the  edge 
of  the  town,  and  had  been  repulsed  with  considerable 
loss.  A  demonstration  of  cavalry  on  the  opposite  side 
of  the  river  was  also  dispersed  in  the  course  of  the  af 
ternoon  by  Captain  Ridgeley's  battery,  and  the  squad 
rons  returned  to  the  city.  At  the  approach  of  evening, 


SEVERE    AMERICAN    LO^  203 

all  the  troops  that  had  been  engaged  were  ordered  back 
to  the  camp,  except  Captain  Ridgeley's  battery  and  the 
regular  infantry  of  the  First  division,  who  were  de 
tained  as  a  guard  for  the  works  during  the  night,  under 
command  of  Lieutenant-Colonel  Garland.  One  bat 
talion  of  the  First  Kentucky  regiment  was  ordered  to 
reinforce  this  command.  Intrenching  tools  were  pro 
cured,  and  additional  strength  was  given  to  the  wrorks, 
and  protection  to  the  men,  by  working  parties  during 
the  night,  under  the  direction  of  Lieutenant  Scarritt, 
engineers. 

The  main  object  proposed  in  the  morning  had  been 
effected.  A  powerful  diversion  had  been  made  to 
favor  the  operations  of  the  Second  Division,  one  of 
the  enemy's  advance  works  had  been  carried,  and  we 
now  had  a  strong  foot-hold  in  the  town.  But  this  had 
not  been  accomplished  without  a  very  heavy  loss,  em 
bracing  some  of  our  most  gallant  and  accomplished 
officers.  Captain  Williams,  topographical  engineers ; 
Lieutenants  Terrett  and  Dilworth,  First  infantry ; 
Lietenant  Woods,  Second  infantry  ;  Captains  Morris 
and  Field,  Brevet-Major  Barbour,  Lieutenants  Irwin 
and  Hazlitt,  Third  infantry  ;  Lieutenant  Hoskins, 
Fourth  infantry  ;  Lieutenant-Colonel  Watson,  Balti 
more  battalion;  Captain  Allen  and  Lieutenant  Put 
nam.  Tennessee  regiment,  and  Lieutenant  Hett,  Ohio 
regiment,  were  killed,  or  have  since  died  of  wounds 
received  in  this  engagement,  while  the  number  and 
rank  of  the  officers  wounded  gives  additional  proof 
of  the  obstinacy  of  the  contest,  and  the  good  conduct 
of  our  troops.  The  number  of  killed  and  \vounded 
incident  to  the  operations  in  the  lower  part  of  the  city, 
on  the  21st,  is  three  hundred  and  ninety-four. 

Early  in  the  morning  of  the  21st,  the  advance  of  the 


204      THE  ENEMY  EVACUATE  THEIR  WORKS. 

Second  division  had  encountered  the  enemy  in  force, 
and  after  a  brief  but  sharp  conflict,  repulsed  him  with 
heavy  loss.  General  Worth  then  succeeded  in  gaining 
a  position  on  the  Saltillo  road,  thus  cutting  the  enemy's 
line  of  communication.  From  this  position  the  two 
heights  south  of  the  Saltillo  road  were  carried  in  suc 
cession,  and  the  guns  taken  in  one  of  them  turned  on 
the  Bishop's  Palace.  These  important  successes  were 
fortunately  obtained  with  comparatively  small  loss; 
Captain  McKavett,  Eighth  infantry,  being  the  only 
officer  killed. 

The  22nd  day  of  September  passed  without  any  act 
ive  operations  in  the  lower  part  of  the  city.  The  cit 
adel  and  other  works  continued  to  fire  at  parties  ex 
posed  to  their  range,  and  at  the  work  now  occupied  by 
our  troops.  The  guard  left  in  it  the  preceding  night, 
except  Captain  Ridgeley's  company,  was  relieved  at 
mid-day  by  General  Quitman's  brigade.  Captain 
Bragg's  battery  was  thrown  under  cover  in  front  of 
the  town,  to  repel  any  demonstration  of  cavalry  in 
that  quarter.  At  dawn  of  day  the  height  above  the 
Bishop's  Palace  was  carried,  and  soon  after  meridian 
the  Palace  itself  was  taken,  and  its  guns  turned  upon 
the  fugitive  garrison.  The  object  for  which  the  Sec 
ond  division  was  detached  had  thus  been  completely 
accomplished,  and  all  felt  confident  that  with  a  strong 
force  occupying  the  road  and  heights  in  his  rear,  and  a 
good  position  below  the  city  in  the  possession  of  the 
Americans,  the  enemy  could  not  possibly  maintain  the 
town. 

During  the  night  of  the  22d  the  enemy  evacuated 
nearly  all  his  defences  in  the  lower  part  of  the  city. 
This  was  reported  to  General  Taylor  early  in  the  morn- 
IL£  of  the  23d,  by  General  Quitman,  who  had  already 


AMERICANS    STORM    THE    CITY.  205 

meditated  an  assault  upon  those  works.  He  immedi 
ately  sent  instructions  to  that  officer,  leaving  it  to  his 
discretion  to  enter  the  city,  covering  his  men  by  the 
houses  and  walls,  and  advance  carefully  so  far  as  he 
might  deem  it  prudent. 

After  ordering  the  remainder  of  the  troops  as  a  IB- 
serve,  under  the  orders  of  Brigadier-General  T -\.iggs, 
General  Taylor  repaired  to  the  abandoned  works,  and 
discovered  that  a  portion  of  General  Quitman's  brigade 
had  entered  the  town,  and  were  successfully  forcing 
their  way  towards  the  principal  plaza.  He  then  or 
dered  up  the  Second  regiment  of  Texas  mounted  volun 
teers,  who  entered  the  city  dismounted,  and,  under  the 
immediate  orders  of  General  Henderson,  co-operated 
with  General  Quitman's  brigade.  Captain  Bragg's 
battery  was  also  ordered  up,  supported  by  the  Third 
infantry,  and  after  firing  for  some  time  at  the  Cathedral, 
a  portion  of  it  was  likewise  thrown  into  the  city.  The 
American  troops  advanced  from  house  to  house,  and 
from  square  to  square,  until  they  reached  a  street  but 
one  square  in  rear  of  the  principal  plaza,  in  and  near 
which  the  enemy's  force  was  mainly  concentrated. 
This  advance  was  conducted  vigorously,  but  with  due 
caution,  and  although  destructive  to  the  enemy,  was 
attended  with  but  small  loss  on  our  part.  Captain 
Ridgeley,  in  the  meantime,  had  served  a  captured 
piece  in  the  first  battery  taken  by  the  enemy,  against 
the  city,  until  the  advance  of  our  men  rendered  it  im 
prudent  to  fire  in  the  direction  of  the  Cathedral.  Gen 
eral  Taylor  was  satisfied  that  his  troops  could  operate 
successfully  in  the  city,  and  that  the  enemy  had  retired 
from  the  lower  portion  of  it  to  make  a  stand  behind 
his  barricades.  As  General  Quitman's  brigade  had 
been  on  duty  the  previous  night,  General  Taylor  deter- 


206  PROPOSAL    TO    EVACUATE. 

mined  to  withdraw  the  troops  to  the  evacuated  works, 
and  concert  with  General  Worth  a  combined  attack 
upon  the  town.  The  troops  accordingly  fell  back  de 
liberately,  in  good  order,  and  resumed  their  original 
positions,  General  Quitman's  brigade  being  relieved 
after  nightfall  by  that  of  General  Hamer.  On  his  re 
turn  to  camp,  he  met  an  officer  with  the  intelligence 
that  General  Worth,  induced  by  the  firing  in  the  lower 
part  of  the  city,  was  about  making  an  attack  at  the 
upper  extremity,  which  had  also  been  evacuated  by  the 
enemy  to  a  considerable  distance.  He  received  a  note 
from  General  Worth,  written  at  eleven  o'clock  p.  M., 
informing  him  that  he  had  advanced  to  within  a  short 
distance  of  the  principal  plaza,  and  that  the  mortar 
which  had  been  sent  to  his  division  in  the  morning  was 
doing  good  execution  within  effective  range  of  the 
enemy's  position.  Desiring  to  make  no  further  attempt 
upon  the  city  without  complete  concert  as  to  the  lines 
and  mode  of  approach,  General  Taylor  instructed  that 
officer  to  suspend  his  advance,  until  he  could  have  an 
interview  with  him  on  the  following  morning  at  his 
head-quarters. 

Early  in  the  morning  of  the  24th  he  received,  through 
Colonel  Moreno,  a  communication  from  General  Am- 
pudia  proposing  to  evacuate  the  town.  He  arranged 
with  Colonel  Moreno  a  cessation  of  fire  until  twelve 
o'clock,  at  which  hour  he  would  receive  the  answer  of 
the  Mexican  general  at  General  Worth's  head-quar 
ters,  to  which  he  soon  repaired.  In  the  meantime, 
General  Ampudia  had  signified  to  General  Worth  his 
desire  for  a  personal  interview  with  Taylor,  to  which 
he  acceded,  and  which  finally  resulted  in  a  surrender 
of  the  city  upon  the  following  conditions : 

Terms  of  Capitulation  of  the  city  of  Monterey,  the 


TERMS    OF    CAPITULATION.  207 

capital  of  Nuevo  Leon,  agreed  upon  by  the  undersigned 
commissioners,  to  wit :  General  Worth,  of  the  United 
States  army,  General  Henderson,  of  the  Texas  volun 
teers,  and  Colonel  Davis,  of  the  Mississippi  riflemen, 
on  the  part  of  Major  General  Taylor,  commanding-in- 
chief  the  United  States  forces,  and  General  Requena, 
and  General  Ortega,  of  the  army  of  Mexico,  and  Senor 
Manuel  M.  Llano,  governor  of  Nuevo  Leon,  on  the  part 
of  Senor  General  Don  Pedro  Ampudia,  commanding- 
in-chief  the  army  of  the  north  of  Mexico. 

ART.  1.  As  the  legitimate  result  of  the  operations 
before  this  place,  and  the  present  position  of  the  con 
tending  armies,  it  is  agreed  that  the  city,  the  fortifica 
tions,  cannon,  the  munitions  of  war,  and  all  other  pub 
lic  property,  with  the  undermentioned  exceptions,  be 
surrendered  to  the  commanding  general  of  the  United 
States  forces  now  at  Monterey. 

ART.  2.  That  the  Mexican  forces  be  allowed  to  retain 
the  following  arms,  to  wit :  the  commissioned  officers 
their  side-arms,  the  infantry  their  arms  and  accoutre 
ments,  the  cavalry  their  arms  and  accoutrements,  the 
artillery  one  field  battery,  not  to  exceed  six  pieces,  with 
twenty-one  rounds  of  ammunition. 

ART.  3.  That  the  Mexican  armed  forces  retire  within 
seven  days  from  this  date,  beyond  the  line  formed  by 
the  pass  of  the  Rinconada,  the  city  of  Linares  and  San 
Fernando  de  Presas. 

ART.  4.  That  the  citadel  at  Monterey  be  evacuated 
by  the  Mexican,  and  occupied  by  the  American  forces, 
to-morrow  morning  at  10  o'clock. 

ART.  5.  To  avoid  collisions,  and  for  mutual  conven 
ience,  that  the  troops  of  the  United  States  will  not  oc 
cupy  the  city  until  the  Mexican  forces  have  withdrawn, 
except  for  hospital  and  storage  purposes. 


208  AMERICANS    ENTER    THE    CITY. 

ART.  6.  That  the  forces  of  the  United  States  will 
not  advance  beyond  the  line  specified  in  the  2d  [3d] 
article  before  the  expiration  of  eight  weeks,  or  until  the 
orders  or  instructions  of  the  respective  governments 
can  be  received. 

ART.  7.  That  the  public  property  to  be  delivered 
shall  be  turned  over  and  received  by  officers  appointed 
by  the  commanding  generals  of  the  two  armies. 

ART.  8.  That  all  doubts  as  to  the  meaning  of  any  of 
the  preceding  articles  shall  be  solved  by  an  equitable 
construction,  and  on  principles  of  liberality  to  the  re 
tiring  army. 

ART.  9.  That  the  Mexican  flag,  when  struck  at  the 
citadel,  may  be  saluted  by  its  own  battery. 

Done  at  Monterey,  September  24,  1846. 

Upon  occupying  the  city,  it  was  discovered  to  be  of 
great  strength  in  itself,  and  to  have  its  approaches  care 
fully  and  strongly  fortified.  The  town  and  works  were 
armed  with  forty  pieces  of  cannon,  well  supplied  with 
ammunition,  and  manned  with  a  force  of  at  least  seven 
thousand  troops  of  the  line,  and  from  two  to  three  thou 
sand  irregulars.  The  force  under  General  Taylor's 
orders  before  Monterey,  as  exhibited  by  the  returns  ac 
companying  his  official  report,  was  four  hundred  and 
twenty-five  officers,  and  six  thousand  two  hundred  and 
twenty  men.  His  artillery  consisted  of  one  ten  inch 
mortar,  two  twenty-four  pounder  howitzers,  and  four 
light  field  batteries  of  four  guns  each — the  mortar  being 
the  only  piece  suitable  to  the  operations  of  a  siege.  His 
loss  is  twelve  officers  and  one  hundred  and  eight  men 
killed  ;  thirty-one  officers  and  three  hundred  and  thirty- 
seven  men  wrounded.  That  of  the  enemy  is  not  known, 
but  is  believed  considerably  to  exceed  our  own. 

In  his  detailed  account  of  the  capture,  he  warmly 


GENERAL  TWIGGS. 


GALLANTRY    OF    OFFICERS.  209 

commended  to  the  government  the  good  conduct.of  the 
troops,  both  regulars  and  volunteers,  which  he  declared 
had  been  conspicuous  throughout  all  his  operations 
against  the  city,  and  he  bore  testimony  to  their  coolness 
and  constancy  in  battle,  and  the  cheerfulness  with 
which  they  submitted  to  exposure  and  privation.  To 
the  general  officers  commanding  divisions — Major-Gen 
erals  Butler  and  Henderson,  and  Brigadier-Generals 
Twiggs  and  Worth — he  expressed  himself  under  many 
obligations  for  the  efficient  aid  which  they  rendered  him 
in  their  respective  commands.  He  expressed  himself 
unfortunate  in  being  deprived,  early  on  the  21st,  of  the 
valuable  services  of  Major-General  Butler,  who  was 
disabled  by  a  wound  received  in  the  attack  on  the  city. 
Major-General  Henderson,  commanding  the  Texan 
volunteers,  rendered  important  aid  in  the  organization 
of  his  command,  and  its  subsequent  operations.  Brig 
adier-General  Twiggs  rendered  important  services  with 
his  division,  and,  as  the  second  in  command,  after  Ma- 
jor-General  Butler  was  disabled.  Brigadier-General 
Worth  was  intrusted  with  an  important  detachment, 
which  rendered  his  operations  independent  of  General 
Taylor's.  These  operations  wrere  conducted  with  abil 
ity,  and  crowned  with  complete  success.  Brigadier- 
Generals  Hamer  and  Quitman,  commanding  brigades  in 
General  Butler's  division :  Lieutenant-Colonels  Garland 
and  Wilson,  commanding  brigades  in  General  Twiggs' 
division  ;  Colonels  Mitchell,  Campbell  Davis  and  Wood, 
commanding  the  Ohio,  Tennessee;  Mississippi,  and  Sec 
ond  Texas  regiments,  respectively ;  and  Majors  Lear, 
Allen,  and  Abercrombie,  commanding  the  Third,  Fourth 
and  First  regiments  of  infantry ;  all  of  whom  served 
under  his  immediate  direction,  and  conducted  their  com 
mands  with  so  much  coolness  and  gallantry  against  the 


15 


210  COMMENDED    TO    THE    GOVERNMENT. 

enemy  as  to  entitle  themselves  to  his  most  favorable 
notice. 

Colonel  Mitchell,  Lieutenant-Colonel  McClung,  Mis 
sissippi  regiment,  Major  Lear,  Third  infantry,  and  Ma 
jor  Alexander,  Tennessee  regiment,  were  all  severely 
wounded,  as  were  Captain  Lamotte,  First  infantry, 
Lieutenant  Graham,  Fourth  infantry,  Adjutant  Arm 
strong,  Ohio  regiment,  Lieutenants  Scudder  and  Allen, 
Tennessee  regiment,  and  Lieutenant  Howard,  Mis 
sissippi  regiment,  while  leading  their  men  against 
the  enemy's  position  on  the  21st  and  23rd.  After  the 
fall  of  Colonel  Mitchell,  the  command  of  the  First  Ohio 
regiment  devolved  upon  Lieutenant-Colonel  Weller; 
that  of  the  Third  infantry,  after  the  fall  of  Major  Lear, 
devolved  in  succession  upon  Captain  Brainbridge  and 
Captain  Henry,  the  former  being  also  wounded.  The 
following  named  officers  were  favorably  noticed  by  their 
respective  commanders  :  Lieutenant-Colonel  Anderson 
and  Adjutant  Heiman,  Tennessee  regiment ;  Lieuten 
ant-Colonel  McClung,  Captains  Cooper  and  Downing  ; 
Lieutenants  Batterson,  Calhoun,  Moore,  Russel,  and 
Cook,  Mississippi  regiment ;  also  Sergeant-Major  Hear- 
lan,  Mississippi  regiment ;  and  Major  Price  and  Captain 
J.  R.  Smith,  unattached,  but  serving  with  it.  General 
Taylor  also  called  attention  to  the  good  conduct  of  Cap 
tain  Johnson,  Ohio  regiment,  and  Lieutenant  Hooker, 
First  artillery,  serving  on  the  staff  of  General  Hamer, 
and  of  Lieutenant  Nichols,  Second  artillery,  on  that  of 
General  Quitman.  Captains  Bragg  and  Ridgeley  served 
with  their  batteries  during  the  operations  under  the 
general's  OWP  observation,  and  in  part  under  his  imme 
diate  orders,  and  exhibited  distinguished  skill  and  gal 
lantry.  Captain  Webster,  First  artillery,  assisted  by 
Lieutenants  Donaldson  and  Bowen,  rendered  good  ser- 


GOOD    CONDUCT    OF    SOLDIERS.  211 

vice  with  the  howitzer  battery,  which  was  much  ex 
posed  to  the  enemy's  fire  on  the  21st. 

From  the  nature  of  the  operations,  the  Second  dra 
goons  were  not  brought  into  action,  but  were  usefully 
employed,  under  the  direction  of  Lieutenant-Colonel 
May,  as  escorts,  and  in  keeping  open  our  communica 
tions.  The  First  Kentucky  regiment  was  also  pre 
vented  from  participating  in  the  action  of  the  21st,  but 
rendered  highly  important  services,  under  Colonel 
Ormsby,  in  covering  the  mortar  battery,  and  holding 
in  check  the  enemy's  cavalry  during  the  day. 
.  Besides  these  officers,  whose  conduct  fell  under  his 
own  immediate  observation,  he  particularly  referred  to 
the  reports  of  division  commanders,  for  a  notice  of  other 
officers,  and  warmly  approved  their  recommendations. 

To  the  officers  of  his  personal  staff  and  of  the  engi 
neers,  topographical  engineers,  and  ordnance,  associated 
with  him,  he  expressed  himself  under  many  obligations 
for  the  valuable  and  efficient  assistance  he  derived  from 
them  during  the  operations.  Colonel  Whiting,  assistant 
quartermaster-general,  Colonels  Croghan  and  Belknap^ 
inspectors-general,  Major  Bliss,  assistant  adjutant-gen 
eral,  Captain  Sibley,  assistant  quartermaster,  Captain 
Wassraman,  commissary  of  subsistence,  Captain  Eaton 

OO  »/  3  i 

and  Lieutenant  Garnett,  aides-de-camp,  and  Majors 
Kirby  and  Van  Buren,  pay  department,  were  also  fa 
vorably  noticed  for  their  promptness  in  communicating 
his  orders  and  instructions.  He  also  expressed  his  par 
ticular  obligations  to  Brevet-Major  Mansfield  and  Lieu 
tenant  Scarritt,  corps  of  engineers.  They  both  ren 
dered  most  important  services  in  reconnoitring  the 
enemy's  positions,  conducting  troops  in  attack,  and 
strengthening  the  works  captured  from  the  enemy. 
Major  Mansfield,  though  wounded  on  the  2 1st,  remained 


212  DEATH    OF    CAPTAIN    WILLIAMS. 

on  duty  during  that  and  the  following  day,  until  con 
fined  by  his  wound  to  camp.  Captain  Williams,  topo 
graphical  engineers,  was,  to  the  great  regret  of  General 
Taylor  and  loss  of  the  service,  mortally  wounded  while 
fearlessly  exposing  himself  in  the  attack  of  the  21st. 
Lieutenant  Pope,  of  the  same  corps,  was  active  and 
zealous  throughout  the  operations.  Major  Munroe, 
chief  of  the  artillery,  Major  Craig,  and  Captain  Ram 
sey,  of  the  ordnance,  were  assiduous  in  the  perform 
ance  of  their  proper  duties.  The  former  superintended 
the  mortar  service  on  the  22nd,  as  particularly  men 
tioned  in  the  report  of  General  Worth. 

Surgeon  Craig,  medical  director,  was  actively  em 
ployed  in  the  important  duties  of  his  department,  and 
the  medical  staff  generally  were  unremitting  in  their 
duties  with  the  regular  regiments,  being  rendered  un 
commonly  arduous  by  the  small  number  serving  in  the 
field. 

Little  need  be  added  to  this  authentic  account  of  the 
brilliant  operations  of  our  army  against  this  strongly 
fortified  and  powerfully  defended  city,  and  of  the  glo 
rious  termination  of  the  long  and  bloody  struggle 
against  it.  The  details  of  the  capture  are  almost  lit 
erally  the  language  of  General  Taylor  himself,  and  may, 
therefore,  be  relied  upon  as  official.  That  it  is  eloquent 
from  the  very  simplicity  and  modesty  with  which  it 
describes  one  of  the  most  brilliant  achievements  of 
modern  times,  need  not  be  told  the  reader.  But  yet, 
as  all  may  well  imagine,  there  must  necessarily  have 
been  numerous  incidents  and  personal  adventures  of 
deeply  exciting  interest,  that  could  not  be  related  in  an 
official  dispatch.  Many  of  these  are  supplied  by  the 
following  memorandum  of  events  during  the  progress 
of  the  siege  and  storming  of  the  city,  by  a  correspon- 


FURTHER    DETAILS    OF    THE    ACTION.  213 

dent  of  the  New  Orleans  papers.  This  supplies  what 
ever  of  interest  has  been  omitted,  and  gives  a  perfect 
history  of  the  transactions  of  the  American  army  be 
fore  Monterey,  and  of  the  capture  of  the  strongest  city 
in  Mexico,  with  the  exception  of  Vera  Cruz. 

September  19,  1846.  This  has  been  a  day  of  excite 
ment  and  interest  to  our  isolated  little  army.  The  gen 
eral  left  the  camp  at  San  Francisco  this  morning  at 
sunrise,  and  by  eight  o'clock  the  whole  column  was  in 
motion,  the  Texas  Rangers,  and  Colonel  May  with  a 
squadron  of  dragoons,  in  advance.  The  men  started 
off  briskly,  and  the  road  was  fine.  After  two  hours' 
march,  a  bridge  was  found  broken  up  by  the  Mexicans. 
A  cornfield  near  at  hand  afforded  materials  for  filling 
up  the  place,  and  the  army  proceeded  over  the  first 
corn-stalk  bridge  I  ever  heard  of.  When  within  about 
four  or  five  miles  of  the  city,  we  heard  a  brisk  cannon 
ading.  Some  of  the  men  had  just  previous  to  this  be 
gun  to  lag,  some  suffered  from  blistered  feet,  and  others 
from  the  intensity  of  the  heat,  but  no  sooner  did  the 
sound  of  cannon  reach  their  ears,  than  they  straight 
ened  themselves  up  and  pressed  forward  with  an  eager 
ness  which  showed  that  their  sufferings  were  all  forgot 
ten.  Captain  Scott,  (the  veritable,)  or  rather  now 
Major  Scott,  who  commands  the  Fifth  infantry,  marched 
immediately  before  us,  and  the  moment  the  brave  old 
soldier  heard  the  enemy's  cannon,  he  drove  his  spurs 
into  his  horse  and  pranced  about  his  regiment  as  if  he 
would  give  a  liberal  portion  of  his  life  to  be  at  Monterey. 

Captain  Miles,  commander  of  the  Seventh  infantry, 
by  whose  side  I  was  riding  at  the  moment,  likewise 
rose  in  his  stirrups,  with  his  keen  black  eyes  sparkling, 
and  his  nostrils  slightly  dilated,  and  gave  orders  to  his 
regiment  to  close  up ;  but  his  orders  were  useless,  for 


214  EAGERNESS    FOR    THE    CONFLICT. 

the  noble  fellows  were  already  pressing  on  the  staff,  to 
the  very  rumps  of  the  horses.  Again,  again  and  again, 
the  noise  of  the  twelve-pounders  reverberated  through 
the  lofty  mountains  which  rose  before  us  and  upon 
each  side,  and  a  buzz,  a  suppressed  hurrah,  ran  through 
the  line.  The  officers  ran  their  eyes  over  their  com 
mands  with  looks  of  pride  and  confidence,  and  the  men 
returned  the  glance,  as  if  to  say  "  we  are  ready,"  and 
pressed  on  still  more  eagerly.  I  rode  out  of  the  column 
and  fell  back  to  look  at  the  Louisiana  boys.  Every 
eye  among  them  was  bright  with  eager  excitement. 
Captain  Blanchard,  and  Lieutenants  Tenbrink  and  the 
two  brothers  Nicholls,  wore  a  peculiar  smile  upon  their 
countenances,  an  expression  that  I  shall  never  forget. 
I  translated  its  meaning  thus  :  "  Now  we  are  about  to 
be  rewarded  for  all  sacrifices  and  toils,  and  we  will  show 
old  Louisiana  that  we  can  represent  her  worthily, 
though  our  numbers  are  small."  They  regretted  the 
absence  of  their  fellow-citizens  who  had  returned  to 
their  quiet  homes,  for  they  well  knew  how  many  a 
brave  heart  would  burn  with  bitter  disappointment  and 
laudable  envy,  could  their  returned  friends  but  see 
them  and  know  their  feelings  at  that  moment. 

On  reaching  the  place  of  encampment  we  came  up 
with  General  Worth,  riding  his  horse  in  beautiful  style. 
A  handsomer  officer  than  he  appeared  then  I  never 
saw.  Every  one  marked  the  change  that  had  suddenly 
come  over  him.  From  the  somewhat  dejected  air,  and 
saddened  countenance  that  he  is  said  to  have  worn  of 
late,  Richard  was  now  himself  again — and  the  gallant 
soldier,  forgetting  all  his  cares,  now  appeared  before 
us,  the  personification  of  an  accomplished  military 
chieftain.  His  handsome  face  was  lighted  up  with  a 
proud,  but  affable  smile,  as  he  motioned  gracefully  to 


PROSPECTS    OF    A    BLOODY    FIGHT.  215 

his  officers,  pointing  out  to  them  the  direction  they 
were  to  take  with  their  respective  commands,  and  not 
a  man  who  saw  him,  but  what  would  at  that  moment 
have  followed  him  to  the  cannon's  mouth.  Such  is  the 
feeling  manifested  by  the  whole  army — which  renders 
this  body  of  men  invincible. 

This  evening  the  enemy's  batteries  have  been  opened 
again  upon  a  reconnoitring  party  of  ours.  Generals 
Taylor,  Worth,  Twiggs,  and  others,  have  been  out, 
looking  at  their  works. 

Nine  o'clock,  p.  M.  An  attack  is  expected,  and  every 
man  in  the  army  will  rest  to-night  on  his  arms.  A 
night  attack  is  what  a  soldier  dislikes  very  much,  be 
cause  it  is  then  difficult  to  distinguish  friend  from  foe. 

September  20.  Everything  remained  quiet  last  night. 
To-morrow  an  attempt  will  be  made  to  take  Monterey. 
A  stout  resistance  is  expected,  for  the  town  is  strongly 
fortified,  as  well  as  the  heights  that  command  it,  and 
the  enemy  has  troops  and  ammunition  enough  there  to 
defend  it.  A  movement  will  no  doubt  be  made  to 
night.  No  one  expects  an  easy  victory ;  on  the  other 
hand,  all  have  made  up  their  minds  to  see  much  blood 
shed.  It  is  believed  that  a  large  number  of  the  ene 
my  is  in  our  rear — in  fact  there  is  little  doubt  on  the 
subject. 

September  24.  This  is  the  fourth  day  since  the  bat 
tle  of  Mo^*erey  commenced.  On  the  20th  at  noon, 
General  Worth  marched  from  the  camp  east  of  the 
town  in  the  direction  of  the  heights  west  of  the  town, 
McCullough's  and  Gillespie's  companies  of  rangers 
forming  the  reconnoitring  party.  At  night  the  division 
bivouacked  almost  within  range  of  the  guns  stationed 
upon  the  highest  point  of  the  hill,  on  which  the  Bishop's 
Palace  is  situated.  At  daylight  of  the  21st,  the  column 


216  INCIDENTS    OF    THE    ATTACK. 

was  again  in  motion,  and  in  a  few  moments  was  turn 
ing  the  point  of  a  ridge  which  protruded  out  towards 
the  enemy's  guns,  bringing  us  as  near  to  them  as  their 
gunners  could  desire.  They  immediately  opened  upon 
the  column  with  a  howitzer  and  twelve-pounder,  firing 
shell  and  round  shot  as  fast  as  they  could  discharge 
their  pieces. 

The  road  now  wound  in  towards  a  gorge,  but  not 
far  enough  to  be  out  of  range  of  their  guns,  which 
still  played  upon  us.  Another  ridge  lay  about  three- 
fourths  of  a  mile  beyond  the  first,  around  the  termination 
of  which  the  road  wound,  bringing  it  under  the  lofty 
summit  of  a  height  which  rises  between  Palace  Hill 
and  the  mountains  which  rise  over  us  on  the  west. 
When  the  head  of  the  column  approached  this  ridge,  a 
body  of  Mexican  cavalry  came  dashing  around  the 
point  to  charge  upon  our  advance.  Captain  Gillespie 
immediately  ordered  his  men  to  dismount  and  place 
themselves  in  ambush.  The  enemy  evidently  did  not 
perceive  this  manoeuvre,  but  the  moment  they  came 
up,  the  Texans  opened  upon  them  a  most  effective 
fire,  unsaddling  a  number  of  them.  McCullough's 
company  now  dashed  into  them — Captain  C.  F.  Smith's 
camp  and  Captain  Scott's  camp  of  artillery,  (acting  as 
infantry,)  and  Lieutenant  Longstreet's  company  of  the 
Eighth  infantry,  with  another  company  of  the  same 
regiment,  likewise  charged  upon  the  enemy.  The 
Texan  horsemen  were  soon  engaged  with  them  in  a 
sort  of  hand-to-hand  skirmish,  in  which  a  number  of 
tho  enemy  fell,  and  one  Texan  was  killed  and  two 
wounded. 

Colonel  Duncan  now  opened  upon  them  with  his 
battery  of  light  artillery,  pouring  a  few  discharges  of 
grape  among  thorn,  and  scattering  them  like  chaff. 


INCIDENTS    OF    THE    ATTACK.  217 

Several  men  and  horses  fell  under  this  destructive  fire. 
I  saw  one  horse  and  rider  bound  some  feet  into  the  air, 
and  both  fell  dead  and  tumbled  down  the  steep.  The 
foot  companies  above  named  then  rushed  up  the  steep 
and  fired  over  the  ridge  at  the  retreating  enemy,  a  con 
siderable  body  of  whom  were  concealed  from  our  view, 
around  the  point  of  the  hill.  About  thirty  of  the 
enemy  were  killed  in  this  skirmish,  and  among  them  a 
captain,  who,  with  two  or  three  others,  fell  in  the  read. 
The  captain  was  wounded  in  three  places,  the  last  shot 
hitting  him  in  the  forehead.  He  fought  gallantly  to  the 
last,  and  I  am  sorry  that  I  cannot  learn  his  name. 

The  light  batteries,  one  of  which  is  commanded  by 
Lieutenant  Mackafl,  were  now  driven  up  on  the  slope 
of  the  ridge,  and  the  howitzers  opened  upon  the  height 
of  Palace  Hill.  A  few  shells  only  were  thrown  before 
the  enemy  commenced  firing  with  a  nine-pounder  from 
the  height  immediately  over  the  right  of  the  column, 
aiming  at  Duncan's  batteries.  The  several  regiments 
took  positions,  and  a  few  more  shells  were  thrown 
towards  Palace  Hill,  but  did  no  execution.  The  nine- 
pounder  continued  to  throw  its  shot,  with  great  pre 
cisian,  at  our  batteries,  one  ball  falling  directly  in  the 
midst  of  the  pieces,  but  fortunately  hitting  neither  men 
nor  guns.  Finding  his  batteries  thus  exposed,  and 
unable  to  effect  anything.  Colonel  Duncan  removed  his 
command  to  a  rancho  about  half  a  mile  farther  up  the 
Saltillo  road,  where  General  Worth  took  up  his  position, 
after  ordering  the  foot  regiments  to  form  along  the  fence, 
near  the  point  of  the  ridge.  The  artillery  battalion, 
Fifth,  Seventh,  and  Eighth  infantry,  and  the  Louisiana 
volunteers,  remained  in  this  position  about  two  hours, 
directly  under  the  fire  of  the  enemy's  guns,  (now  two.) 
The  balls  fell  directly  in  their  midst  all  this  time  with- 


218  DANGEROUS  ENTERPRISE. 

out  wounding  a  man !  To  begin  with,  the  Mexicans 
manage  their  artillery  in  battery  as  well  as  the  Ame 
ricans  do — this,  I  believe  is  now  conceded  by  every 
officer. 

At  half-past  ten  the  column  moved  towards  the 
general's  position.  At  this  time,  Captain  McKavett, 
of  the  Eighth  infantry,  was  shot  through  the  heart  by 
a  nine- pound  ball,  and  a  private  of  the  Fifth  infantry 
was  severely  wounded  in  the  thigh,  and  he  died  the 
next  morning.  About  fifty  Mexicans  now  appeared 
upon  the  side  hill,  over  the  moving  column,  and  fired 
at  our  troops  some  hundred  musket  shot,  without  doing 
any  harm.  The  division  deployed  into  the  position 
pointed  out,  and  remained  an  hour  or  two,  when  Cap 
tain  C.  F.  Smith  of  the  artillery  battalion,  with  two 
companies  (his  own  and  Captain  Scott's,)  and  four 
companies  of  Texas  rangers  on  foot,  were  ordered  to 
storm  the  second  height.  This  the  gallant  officei 
cheerfully  undertook,  and  was  followed  with  enthu 
siasm  by  the  officers  and  men  of  his  command.  It  was 
considered  on  all  sides  to  be  a  dangerous  undertaking, 
and  his  party  was  considered  most  emphatically  a 
forlorn  hope.  That  the  height  would  be  taken,  no  one 
doubted,  but  that  many  brave  fellows  would  fall  in  the 
attempt,  seemed  inevitable.  The  distance  to  be  climbed 
after  reaching  the  foot  of  the  hill,  was  about  a  quarter 
of  a  mile  ;  a  part  of  the  way  was  almost  perpendicular, 
and  through  thorn-bushes  and  over  sharp  pointed  rocks 
and  loose  sliding  stones. 

The  Seventh  infantry  commanded  by  Captain  Miles, 
was  ordered  to  support  Captain  Smith's  party,  and  by 
marching  directly  to  the  foot  of  the  height,  arrived  be 
fore  Captain  Smith,  who  had  been  ordered  to  take  a 
circuitous  route.  Captain  Miles  sent  up  Lieutenant 


GALLANTLY  ACCOMPLISHED.  219 

Gantt  with  a  detachment  of  men,  upon  the  hill  side,  to 
divert  the  attention  of  the  enemy  from  Captain  Smith's 
command,  which  could  not  yet  be  seen.  The  Seventh 
had  already  sustained  a  heavy  fire  of  grape  and  round 
shot,  as  they  forded  the  San  Juan,  which  winds  around 
the  foot  of  the  height,  which  fell  like  a  shower  of  hail 
in  their  ranks,  without  killing  a  man.  Lieutenant 
Gantt's  party  were  greeted  with  grape  and  round  shot, 
which  cut  the  shrubs  and  tore  up  the  loose  stones  in  the 
ranks  without  killing  any  one ;  but  the  gallant  young 
officer  came  within  an  inch  of  being  killed  by  a  cannon 
ball,  which  ran  down  the  steep  and  filled  his  face  with 
fragments  of  rock,  dust  and  gravel.  The  fire  was  ac 
companied  by  a  constant  discharge  of  musketry,  the 
enemy  covering  the  upper  part  of  the  hill  side,  but  the 
detachment  continued  to  move  up,  driving  the  Mexicans 
back,  until  they  were  recalled. 

Captain  Smith's  party  now  arrived  and  moved  up 
the  hill,  the  rangers  in  advance,  and  did  not  halt  for 
an  instant  until  the  Mexicans  were  driven  from  the 
summit.  Whilst  this  was  going  on,  Colonel  Persifer 
F.  Smith,  who  commanded  the  Fifth  and  Seventh  in 
fantry — the  Fifth,  with  Blanchard's  Louisiana  boys, 
under  Major  Martin  Scott,  had  been  ordered  to  sup 
port  the  whole — gave  orders  for  these  commands  to 
*  pass  around  on  each  side  and  storm  the  fort,  which  was 
situated  about  half  a  mile  back  of  the  summit  on  the 
same  ridge,  and  commanded  the  Bishop's  Palace.  Such 
a  foot-race  as  now  ensued,  has  seldom,  if  ever  been 
seen  ;  the  Louisiana  boys  making  tremendous  strides 
to  be  in  with  the  foremost.  Captain  Smith  had  the 
gun  which  he  took  upon  the  height  run  down  towards 
the  breastwork,  and  fired  into  it.  Then  came  Colonel 
P.  F.  Smith's  men,  with  a  perfect  rush,  firing  and 


220  STORMING    A    FORT. 

cheering — the  Fifth  and  Seventh,  and  Louisianians, 
reaching  the  ridge  above  nearly  at  the  same  time. 

The  Mexicans  fired  at  them  with  grape,  but  it  did 
not  save  them,  or  cause  an  instant's  hesitation  in  our 
ranks.  Our  men  run,  and  fired,  and  cheered,  until 
they  reached  the  work,  the  foremost  entering  at  one 
end,  wrhilst  the  Mexicans,  about  one  thousand  in  num 
ber,  left  the  other  in  retreat.  The  colors  of  the  Fifth 
infantry  were  instantly  raised,  and  scarcely  were  they 
up  before  those  of  the  Seventh  were  alongside.  The 
three  commands  entered  the  fort  together,  so  close  was 
the  race — the  Fifth,  however,  getting  an  advance,  were 
in  first.  J.  W.  Miller,  of  Blanchard's  company,  was 
among  the  first  four  or  five  who  entered.  The  three 
commands  may  be  said  to  have  come  out  even  in  the 
race,  for  the  Seventh  was  not  five  seconds  behind.  In 
less  than  five  minutes  the  gun  found  in  the  fort  was 
thundering  away  at  the  Bishop's  Palace ! 

More  ammunition  was  found  than  our  troops  will 
use,  with  the  three  guns  which  were  captured.  One 
of  the  guns  was  found  concealed.  They  are  nine- 
pound  brass  pieces.  Several  mules  and  half  a  dozen 
beautiful  tents  were  likewise  captured.  Killed,  none. 
Wounded,  in  Seventh  infantry,  Lieutenant  Potter, 
bullet  through  the  calf  of  the  leg ;  Orderly  Sergeant 
Hurdle,  of  company  K ;  Corporal  S.  P.  Oakley,  se 
riously,  in  the  thigh.  Corporal  Oakley  is  from  New 
York  city,  and  a  very  intelligent,  well-educated  man, 
as  wrell  as  a  good  soldier.  Private  White — the  same 
who  captured  the  Mexican  officer's  trunk  at  Marin, 
and  who  received  it  and  its  contents  from  General 
Taylor — wounded  in  the  head.  Fifth  infantry,  killed, 
none  ;  wounded — Lieutenant  Russell,  in  the  arm  : 
Sergeant-major  Brand,  badly,  in  the  mouth,  with  a 


INSTANCES    OF    INDIVIDUAL    COURAGE.  221 

musket  ball.  Privates  McManus  and  Grubb,  slightly 
wounded — Sergeant  Uptergraph,  color-bearer,  distin 
guished  himself  by  his  gallantry. 

Thus  was  this  brilliant  coup  de  main  made  almost 
without  bloodshed.  I  have  not  time  to  give  the  .par 
ticulars  of  this  glorious  affair.  Captain  C.  F.  Smith, 
was  in  the  advance,  with  McCall,  at  the  battle  of  Res- 
aca  de  la  Palma,  and  is  one  of  the  most  gallant  and  ac 
complished  officers  in  the  army — so  say  all  his  fellow- 
officers  whom  I  have  heard  speak  of  him.  Colonel  P. 

F.  Smith — General  Smith,  of  Louisiana — distinguished 
himself  on  that  occasion,  as  did  Major  Scott  and  Cap 
tain  Miles,  and  in  truth  every  officer  and  man  did  his 
duty  nobly. 

The  gallant  conduct  of  Captain  Blanchard  and  Lieu 
tenant  Tenbrink,  and  the  two  brothers  Nicholls,  are 
praised  by  all  the  officers  who  were  there.  In  truth, 
the  Louisiana  boys  have  fought  every  day  for  four 
days,  and  I  assure  you,  as  General  Worth's  report  will 
bear  me  out  in  saying,  and  as  every  officer  in  the  Sec 
ond  division  will  testify,  that  this  corps  has  distin 
guished  itself  on  every  occasion  where  they  have  been 
called  on.  The  sons  of  Judge  Nicholls,  of  Donaldson- 
ville,  have  stood  fire  four  or  five  hours  at  a  time,  driv 
ing  the  enemy — under  their  battery — from  bush  to  bush, 
and  rock  to  rock,  and  at  last  were  among  the  foremost 
to  rush  into  the  Bishop's  Palace  and  take  it  by  storm. 
Captain  Blanchard  and  his  company  have  already 
made  a  reputation  that  will  not  soon  be  forgotten.  S 

G.  Allen,    private   of    this    company,   was    mortally 
wounded  in  this  fight,  and  died  next  morning.     Cap 
tain  Smith  had  no  one  killed  or  wounded  in  his  party 
of  regulars — two  Texans  were  wounded,  viz.  :  William 
Carley  and  B.  F.  Reese. 


222  A    BARBAROUS    DEED. 

September  24.  I  date  both  my  letters  on  one  day, 
oecause  I  am  obliged  to  foot  up  the  news  of  the  last 
four  days,  having  had  no  writing  materials  along. 
Even  now,  though  I  write  in  a  palace,  I  am  obliged  to 
hold  the  sheet  of  paper  in  one  hand  on  my  knee,  for 
want  of  a  desk.  But  I  have  no  time  for  extra  remarks 
— a  chance  offers  to  send  you  the  news,  and  I  must 
hurry  to  give  you  a  glance  at  what  has  been  done  here, 
before  the  express  goes  off.  On  the  morning  of  the 
21st,  Colonel  Childs,  of  the  artillery  battalion,  with 
three  of  his  companies — one  commanded  by  Captain 
Vinton,  another  by  Captain  J.  B.  Scott,  and  the  third 
by  Lieutenant  Ayres,  and  three  companies  of  the 
Eighth  infantry — company  A.  commanded  by  Lieu 
tenant  Longstreet  and  Lieutenant  Wainright ;  com 
pany  B,  Lieutenant  Holloway  commanding  and  Lieu 
tenant  Merchant ;  company  D,  Captain  Scrivner  and 
Lieutenant  Montgomery — was  ordered  to  take  the 
summit  of  Palace  Hill. 

The  colonel  left  the  camp  at  three  o'clock,  A.  M., 
and  climbed  the  mountain  through  the  chapparal  and 
up  the  steep  rocks,  with  such  secrecy,  that  at  daybreak 
he  was  within  one  hundred  yards  of  the  breastwork  of 
sand-bags  before  he  was  discovered.  Three  of  the  ar 
tillerymen,  having  rushed  ahead  too  fast,  found  them 
selves  in  the  hands  of  the  Mexicans.  They  surren 
dered  :  the  Mexicans  took  their  muskets,  -and  shot  them 
down  with  the  very  pieces  they  had  given  up.  I  saw 
the  poor  fellows  lying  there. 

I  have  but  a  few  moments  left  to  write  in,  and  must 
therefore  defer  the  particulars  of  the  storming  of  the 
palace  until  I  have  more  time.  Colonel  Staniford  went 
up  at  daylight  with  the  balance  of  the  Eighth,  and 
Major  Scott  led  up  the  Fifth.  The  Louisiana  boys 


CAPTURE    OF    THE    BISHOP  S    PALACE.  223 

were  on  the  hill  with  the  Fifth,  at  eight  o'clock,  A.  M. 
One  of  Duncan's  howitzers,  in  charge  of  Lieutenant 
Rowland,  was  dragged  up,  or  rather  lifted  up,  and 
opened  on  the  Palace,  which  was  filled  with  troops. 
The  Mexicans  charged  on  the  howitzer,  but  were 
driven  back.  A  constant  firing  was  kept  up  for  seve 
ral  hours,  particularly  by  Blanchard's  men,  who  left  a 
dozen  Mexicans  dead  upon  the  hill  side.  At  length  a 
charge  was  ordered,  and  our  men  rushed  down  upon 
the  Palace,  entered  a  hole  in  a  door  that  had  been 
blocked  up,  but  opened  by  the  howitzer,  and  soon 
cleared  the  work  of  the  few  Mexicans  that  remained. 
Lieutenant  Ayres  was  the  lucky  one  who  first  reached 
the  halyards  and  lowered  the  flag.  One  eighteen-pound 
brass  piece,  a  beautiful  article,  manufactured  in  Liver 
pool  in  1842,  and  a  short  brass  twelve-pound  howitzer, 
were  captured,  with  a  large  quantity  of  ammunition, 
and  some  muskets  and  lances. 

The  fort  adjoining  the  Palace  walls  is  not  complete, 
but  is  very  neatly  constructed,  as  far  as  it  is  built. 
The  killed  on  our  side,  in  taking  the  Palace,  were 
seven — wounded,  twelve.  Lieutenant  Wainwright 
was  wounded  in  the  side  and  arm  by  a  musket-ball, 
Sut  will  soon  recover,  it  is  hoped.  Mr.  John  Francis, 
of  New7  Orleans,  belonging  to  Blanchard's  company, 
was  killed.  Colonel  Childs,  Captain  Vinton,  Captain 
Blanchard,  Lieutenant  Longstreet,  Lieutenant  Clark 
(adjutant  of  the  Eighth,)  Lieutenant  Ayres,  Lieutenant 
McCown,  and  the  two  Nicholls,  seem  to  have  been  the 
heroes  of  the  day.  The  two  latter  performed  prodigies, 
and  not  only  Judge  Nicholls,  but  old  Louisiana  may 
well  be  proud  of  such  sons.  The  Mexicans  lost  at 
least  thirty  killed — twenty-one  had  been  buried  this 
morning,  and  I  have  seen  a  number  Iving  on  the  hill- 


224  GALLANTRY    OF    GENERAL    WORTH. 

side,  that  were  not  discovered  by  our  men  when  they 
brought  in  the  dead. 

Yesterday  morning  the  whole  division  under  Gen- 
eral  Worth  entered  the  town  on  this  side,  and  have 
been  fighting  there  ever  since.  The  heart  of  the  city 
is  nothing  but  one  fortification,  the  thick  walls  being 
pierced  for  muskets  and  cannon,  and  placed  so  as  to 
rake  the  principal  streets.  The  roofs  being  flat,  and 
the  front  walls  rising  three  or  four  feet  above  the  roof, 
of  course  every  street  has  a  line  of  breastworks  on 
each  side.  A  ten-inch  mortar  came  round  from  Gen 
eral  Taylor  last  evening,  and  it  is  now  placed  in  the 
largest  plaza,  to  which  our  troops  have  fought  step  by 
step,  and  from  house  to  house.  Duncan's  batteries  are 
in  town,  and  the  present  impression  is  that  the  place 
will  soon  be  taiven.  General  Worth  has  gained  all  the 
strongholds  that  command  the  city,  and  has  pushed  the 
enemy  as  far  as  they  can  go  without  falling  into  Gen- 
eral  Taylor's  hands  on  the  other  side  of  the  city.  All 
this  has  been  done  with  the  loss  of  only  about  seventy 
killed  and  wounded. 

The  achievement  is  a  glorious  one — sufficient  to 
satisfy  the  ambition  of  any  man  on  earth.  I  was  ex 
pecting  to  see  General  Worth  rushing  his  men  into  un 
necessary  danger,  in  order  to  win  for  them  and  himself 
great  military  fame,  but  his  conduct  has  been  very 
different  from  this.  His  great  study  has  been  to  gain 
these  commanding  points  with  the  least  possible  sacri 
fice  of  life.  At  first  it  seemed  totally  impossible  to 
storm  these  heights — it  looked  like  charging  upon  the 
clouds — but  it  has  been  done.  The  Bishop's  Palace, 
which  is  as  strong  as  it  has  been  represented  to  be,  has 
been  stormed  and  taken  by  our  brave  soldiers.  I 
should  have  stated  that  Colonel  Hays,  with  a  body  of 


GENERAL  WORTH, 


16 


SERVICES  OF  THE  TEXAN  RANGERS.       225 

his  troops,  and  Captains  Gillespie  and  McCulloch,  were 
at  the  taking  of  the  Palace.  Captain  Gillespie  was 
mortally  wounded,  and  died  yesterday  morning  regret 
ted  by  the  whole  army. 

I  cannot  keep  up,  at  all,  with  the  rangers.  Their 
services  have  been  invaluable  to  General  Taylor,  from 
the  commencement  of  the  campaign.  They  fight  wTith 
all  the  steadiness  of  old  soldiers — and  are  constantly 
on  the  move.  The  country  owes  them  much  for  their 
noble  conduct.  I  say  nothing,  as  yet,  about  General 
Taylor's  proceedings  on  the  other  side  of  the  town, 
because  the  information  I  have  received  is  not  well 
authenticated.  Mr.  Kendall  and  I  both  came  out  with 
this  division,  neither  knowing  that  the  other  was  com 
ing  with  it,  until  it  was  too  late  to  return,  and  there  is 
no  communication  between  the  divisions  except  by 
armed  bodies  of  men.  The  general  has,  however, 
taken  three  batteries  near  the  town,  on  the  other  side, 
in  doing  which  he  has  lost  about  three  hundred  men, 
killed  and  wounded !  I  do  not  know  the  exact  number 
killed,  but  will  be  able  to  ascertain  before  this  letter 
goes — and  will  try  to  give  other  particulars. 

General  Taylor  has  arrived  at  General  Worth's 
headquarters  to-day,  and  is  now  engaged  in  town  with 
Ampudia's  messengers,  considering  the  enemy's  pro 
posals  for  surrendering  the  town  and  the  large  fort  at 
the  north-east  side  of  it.  That  fort  is  very  strong, 
and  is  believed  to  contain  at  least  twenty  guns.  Hos 
tilities  have  ceased  until  the  conference  shall  be  con 
cluded.  There  must  be  an  immense  quantity  of 
property  in  town,  particularly  arms  and  ammunition. 

I  should  have  mentioned  that  the  Second  division 
marched  from  camp  writh  only  two  days'  rations,  and 
no  tents.  A  large. majority  of  the  officers,  and  many 


220        TERMS    OF    CAPITULATION    UNSATISFACTORY. 

of  tne  men,  worked  and  climbed  mountains,  chased 
the  enemy,  and  fought  forty-eight  hours,  with  nothing 
to  eat  but  raw  corn.  Much  of  the  two  days'  rations 
were  spoiled  by  the  rains,  and  as  the  troops  were  fre 
quently  ordered  off  at  an  instant's  notice,  they  left  their 
haversacks  behind. 

There  have  been  from  ten  to  fifteen  thousand  troops 
at  this  place  ever  since  we  have  been  here,  but  they 
are  leaking  out,  in  citizens'  clothes,  as  fast  as  they  can 
dodge  off.  As  soldiers,  there  is  no  escape  for  them. 

September  25.  The  city  has  capitulated.  Many 
persons,  particularly  the  Texan  volunteers,  who  fought 
so  bravely,  are  displeased  at  these  terms.  The  town 
was  all  but  in  our  hands,  and,  could  they  be  believed, 
would  have  been  taken  in  three  hours.  I  believe  that 
it  would  have  required  much  more  hard  fighting  to 
have  taken  it,  but  this  was  not  the  question  with  Gen 
eral  Taylor.  He  and  his  officers  knew  perfectly  well, 
of  course,  that  the  town  could  soon  be  taken,  but  he 
wanted  no  prisoners  to  take  up  his  time  and  eat  up  his 
substance  ;  but  he  did  have  an  object  in  view  which 
will  be  reached  by  the  terms  of  this  capitulation,  and 
that  object  will  lead  to  a  result  most  beneficial  to  our 
government,  under  whose  advice  or  orders  General 
Taylor  acted  in  agreeing  to  these  terms.  As  I  have  a 
few  moments  to  spare  before  the  express  goes  out  this 
morning,  (he  was  detained  last  night  by  the  slow  pro 
gress  of  business  with  Ampudia,)  I  will  speak  of  the 
operations  of  General  Taylor  on  his  side  of  the  town. 

Major  Mansfield,  of  the  Engineers,  reconnoitred 
the  enemy's  works  on  the  night  of  the  19th,  but  could 
obtain  no  very  accurate  information,  although  he  ap 
proached  very  near  to  some  of  them  on  the  heights. 
On  the  20th,  Lieutenant  Scarritt  and  Lieutenant  Pope 


OPERATIONS    OF    GENERAL    TAYLOR.  227 

were  sent  out  to  reconnoitre  the  works,  Scarritt  on  the 
right  and  Pope  on  the  left  of  the  town.  The  latter 
approached  and  discovered  the  position  of  a  battery 
on  the  extreme  left,  and  was  exposed  to  a  fire  of  can 
non  and  musketry  from  lancers,  from  which,  afte* 
finishing  his  observations,  he  retired  in  safety.  C 
the  night  of  the  20th,  the  mortar  and  howitzer  batte> 
ries  were  placed  in  a  position  to  play  on  the  strong 
holds  around  the  citadel.  The  action  commenced  on 
the  morning  of  the  21st,  by  the  opening  of  these  two 
batteries.  Colonel  Garland's  brigade  was  ordered  to 
move  to  the  left  for  the  purpose  of  storming  the  bat 
tery  discovered  by  Lieutenant  Pope  the  day  before, 
and  to  occupy,  if  possible,  the  lower  part  of  the  city. 
Major  Mansfield,  Captain  Williams,  and  Lieutenant 
Pope  were  ordered  in  advance,  to  select  the  most 
available  point  of  attack,  and  to  direct  the  movements 
of  the  column  upon  it.  Three  companies  were  thrown 
forward  as  skirmishers,  and  advanced  rapidly  towards 
the  works,  followed  by  the  brigade  in  line  of  battle, 
under  a  cross  fire  of  artillery  from  the  citadel  and 
fort,  and  a  heavy  fire  of  musketry. 

The  column  charged  into  a  street  about  two  hundred 
yards  to  the  right  of  the  battery,  passed  the  wrorks 
entirely,  and  effected  an  entrance  into  the  tower.  After 
advancing  rapidly  about  four  hundred  yards  beyond 
the  battery,  they  came  immediately  in  front  of  a  masked 
battery  of  artillery  and  musketry,  which  swept  the 
street  completely  by  its  range.  The  barricades  of  the 
streets  at  sixty  yards  distance  from  the  head  of  the 
column,  were  lined  with  Mexican  troops,  who,  entirely 
covering  themselves,  opened  a  murderous  discharge  of 
grape  and  musketry  upon  the  advancing  column. 
Every  house  in  the  street  was  pierced  for  musketry, 


228  OFFICERS    KILLED    AND    WOUNDED. 

and  enfiladed  the  street  in  every  direction.  Under 
this  fire  the  following  officers  were  killed  or  mortally 
wounded :  Major  Barbour,  Third  infantry,  by  grape 
shot  in  the  abdomen ;  Captain  Williams,  topographi 
cal  engineers,  shot  through  the  body  by  a  musket  ball, 
fell  into  the  street,  and  was  carried  into  the  doorway 
of  a  house  by  Lieutenant  Pope,  amidst  a  shower  of 
balls  that  covered  him  with  dust.  The  gallantry  of 
this  young  officer,  now  in  his  first  battle,  is  spoken  of 
in  admiration  by  the  army.  Captain  Williams  died 
the  next  day,  and  was  buried  with  the  honors  of  wai 
by  the  Mexican  troops,  into  whose  hands  he  had 
fallen.  Lieutenant  Merritt,  First  infantry,  shot  through 
the  body,  and  died  the  next  day. 

Wounded — Major  Mansfield,  ball  through  calf  of  the 
leg.  This  brave  officer  would  not  leave  on  account 
of  his  wound,  but  rode  about,  behaving  in  the  most 
gallant  manner,  all  day.  Captain  Bainbridge,  Third 
infantry,  slightly  wounded  in  the  hand.  Major  Lear, 
dangerously  wounded  in  the  mouth,  the  ball  passing  out 
at  the  back  of  his  head.  Major  Abercrombie,  First 
infantry,  severely  wounded.  Lieutenant  R.  Graham, 
Fourth  infantry,  severely  wounded  in  both  legs  and 
body ;  hopes  are  entertained  of  his  recovery.  A  great 
number  of  men  killed  and  wounded — number  not 
known. 

It  being  impossible,  in  the  opinion  of  the  engineer 
officers,  to  effect  anything  in  attacking  the  barricades 
in  front,  the  column  moved  rapidly  up  a  street  to  the 
right,  with  the  intention  of  turning  them.  Being  rein 
forced  by  the  Ohio  regiment,  a  second  charge  was 
made,  under  the  direction  of  General  Butler,  which, 
owing  to  the  tremendous  fire  of  musketry  and  grape 
from  the  barricade*  and  stone  houses,  likewise  proved 


MISSISSIPPI    VOLUNTEERS.  229 

ineffectual.  The  troops  were  then  ordered  by  General 
Taylor  to  retire  in  good  order,  and  get  under  cover 
from  the  enemy's  fire,  which  order  was  handsomely 
executed. 

During  the  engagement  in  town,  of  Garland's  bri 
gade,  the  forts  that  were  passed  on  the  left,  in  entering 
the  town,  were  gallantly  carried  by  the  Mississippi 
and  Tennessee  regiments — the  first  commanded  by 
Colonel  Campbell,  and  the  second  by  Colonel  Davis. 
Colonel  McClung,  of  the  Mississippi  regiment,  was 
dangerously  wounded.  These  regiments  sustained  a 
great  loss  of  killed  and  wounded,  but  I  cannot,  in  the 
short  time  left  me,  ascertain  the  names  or  the  number 
of  those  who  fell.  Captain  Bragg's  battery  of  light 
artillery  was  brought  into  action,  but  it  being  impossi 
ble  to  use  it  effectively,  it  was  withdrawn.  Several 
pieces  of  artillery  were  captured.  The  forts  that  were 
taken  were  occupied  by  Ridgeley's  light  artillery  com 
pany,  who  turned  the  captured  pieces  against  the 
Mexican  \vorks,  and  the  cannonade  was  kept  up  the 
rest  of  the  day.  There  were  many  skirmishes,  and 
gallant  deeds,  \vhich  1  will  mention  more  minutely  at  a 
future  time. 

On  the  night  of  the  22d,  the  enemy  abandoned  the 
two  works  which  had  proved  so  destructive  to  the 
Third  and  Fourth  infantry,  and  they  were  occupied 
early  next  morning  oy  the  Mississippi  and  Tennessee 
regiments,  under  General  Quitman.  About  eight  o'clock 
the  same  morning,  these  two  regiments  advanced  on 
the  town,  and  a  sharp  engagement  commenced.  These 
troops  were  supported  by  a  body  of  Texan  rangers 
dismounted  for  the  occasion,  under  General  Hender 
son,  and  by  the  Third  regiment  of  infantry.  The 
fight  was  kept  up  until  four  o'clock,  P.  M.,  during 


230  A    FLAG    OF    TRUCE. 

which  time  our  troops  drove  the  enemy  from  house  to 
house,  almost  to  the  main  plaza.  The  loss  of  life  on 
our  side  was  not  severe  during  this  day.  On  the 
morning  of  the  24th,  a  flag  of  truce  was  sent  in,  which 
resulted  in  the  capitulation  of  the  town. 

During  the  whole  of  the  engagement  on  the  21st, 
Colonel  Kinney  was  exceedingly  useful  in  carrying 
orders,  and  in  giving  advice  in  matters  with  which  his 
thorough  acquaintance  with  Mexican  customs  rendered 
him  familiar:  He  was  in  the  thickest  of  the  fight, 
moving  about  from  point  to  point,  and  doing  good  ex 
ecution  with  his  rifle.  This  gentleman's  services  have 
been  valuable  to  General  Taylor  in  the  movements  of 
the  army  from  Matamoras  to  this  place.  He  has  been 
everywhere  reconnoitring  the  country  and  procuring 
information — riding  day  and  night,  and  exposing  his 
life  in  a  thousand  ways.  The  colonel  never  flinched 
from  any  duty  required  of  him,  and,  had  General 
Taylor  ordered  him  to  go  and  bring  him  Ampudia's 
portfolio,  he  would  have  undertaken  it.  I  devote  a 
paragraph  to  a  mention  of  this  gentleman's  services 
because  he  deserves  much  from  the  public,  for  whom 
he  has  labored  so  arduously  and  so  efficiently.  Our 
killed  and  wounded  in  taking  Monterey  amounted  to 
about  five  hundred — nearly  three  hundred  killed. 
Some  time  will  elapse  before  the  number  will  be 
known  accurately,  but  it  ir.  well  known  that  few  prison 
ers  were  taken  by  the  Mexicans. 

September  27,  12  o'clock,  night.  Didn't  I  tell  you,  or 
the  20th,  that  we  should  have  a  "  fight  at  Monterey, 
and  have  a  hard  one  ?"  Well,  on  the  21st  the  ball 
opened,  when  our  troops  approached  within  one  thou 
sand  four  hundred  yards  of  Monterey.  Our  troops  ad 
vanced  steadily  and  firmly,  fighting  every  inch  of  the 


INCIDENTS    OF    THE    CAPITULATION.  231 

ground,  until  they  drove  the  Mexicans  into  the  plaza, 
but  this  took  them  until  the  evening  of  the  24th,  (three 
days,)  when  the  Mexicans  surrendered  the  city. 

On  the  morning  of  the  24th  (half-past  eleven  o'clock,) 
General  Ampudia  sent  Colonel  Moreno  to  General  Tay 
lor,  with  a  proposition,  which  General  Taylor  would 
not  accept.  He  (General  Ampudia)  wanted  to  march 
out  with  all  his  men,  arms,  ammunition,  &c.  General 
Ampudia  then  requested  an  interview  in  person,  which 
wras  granted,  and  they  discoursed  until  half-past  four, 
when  General  Taylor  gave  to  General  Ampudia  his 
last  and  final  proposition,  and  told  him  he  would  give 
him  one  hour  to  answer.  Before  the  hour  was  up,  the 
answer  was  returned  that  General  Ampudia  accepted 
the  terms  proposed  by  General  Taylor,  which  were  in 
substance  these : 

The  Mexican  army  to  evacuate  the  city,  and  it  to  be 
delivered  up  'to  the  Americans.  They  should  march 
out  with  their  muskets  and  twenty  rounds  of  cartridges, 
and  six  pieces  of  cannon  That  the  Mexican  force 
should  not  appear  this  side  of  a  line  from  Riconada 
running  through  Linares  and  terminating  at  Riconada: 
and  the  Americans  should  not  advance  beyond  it. 
This  gives  us  Monterey  and  about  thirty  miles  beyond, 
and  puts  us  in  possession  of  about  thirty  pieces  of  can 
non. 

It  would  be  useless  for  me  now  to  attempt  to  tell 
you  of  the  many  .brilliant  feats  of  our  little  army,  but  I 
will  leave  it  to  other  times  and  perhaps  to  other  men, 
(the  boat  leaves  in  three  minutes,)  but  will  add — both 
regulars  and  volunteers  did  all  and  everything  that 
their  country  could  expect.  Some  things  which  could 
be  done,  but  ppeared  almost  impossible,  were  done 
quickly. 


232  STORMING    OF    MONTEREY. 

Our  loss  is  reported — killed  and  wounded  about  five 
hundred — Mexican  loss  about  the  same.  American 
force  six  thousand ;  Mexican  twelve  thousand,  and  the 
advantage  of  fortifications,  and  the  city  fortified  at 
every  point,  even  to  the  tops  of  the  houses. 

The  capture  of  Monterey  has  been  described  in 
eloquent  terms  by  a  thousand  pens,  both  in  prose  and 
poetry,  and  has  excited  the  admiration  of  Europe  as 
well  as  America.  Few  military  enterprises  display 
more  cool,  determined  bravery  on  the  part  of  soldiers, 
or  more  true  generalship  and  chivalric  bearing  than  did 
the  conduct  of  General  Taylor  and  his  officers,  in  the 
storming  of  this  city.  It  is  therefore  natural  that  the 
enthusiasm  the  brilliant  event  has  inspired  should  have 
found  utterance  in  eloquent  verse  as  well  as  in  sober 
prose.  Among  the  many  attempts  to  give  coloring  and 
life  to  the  exciting  and  novel  incidents  connected  with 
the  capture  of  Monterey,  the  following  i§  probably  the 
most  heart-stirring  and  eloquent : 


STORMING    OF    MONTEREY 

We  were  not  inanv — we  who  stood 

Before  fne  iron  se.~  that  day — 
Yet  many  a  gallant  spirit  would 
Give  half  his  head  if  he  but  could 
Have  been  with  us  at  Monterey. 

Now  here,  now  there,  the  shot  it  hailed 

In  deadly  drifts  of  fiery  spray, 
Yet  not  a  single  soldier  quailed 
When  wounded  comrades  round  them  wailed 

Their  dying  shout  at  Monterey. 

And  on — still  on  our  column  kept 

Through  walls  of  flame  its  withering  way  ; 


STORMIXG    OF    iMOXTEREY.  233 

Where  fell  the  dead,  the  living  stept 
Still  charging  on  the  guns  which  swept 
The  slippery  streets  of  Monterey. 

The  foe  himself  recoiled  aghast, 

When,  striking  where  the  strongest  lay, 
We  swooped  his  flanking  batteries  past, 
,  And  braving  full  their  murderous  blast, 

Stormed  home  the  towers  of  Monterey. 

Our  banners  on  those  turrets  wave, 

And  there  our  evening  bugl  es  play  ; 
Where  orange  boughs  above  their  grave 
Keep  green  the  memory  of  the  brave 

WTho  fought  and  fell  at  Monterey. 

We  are  not  many — we  who  pressed 

Beside  the  brave  who  fell  that  day  ; 
But  who  of  us  has  not  confessed 
He'd  rather  share  that  warrior  rest, 

Than  not  have  been  at  Monterey. 

The  only  act  of  General  Taylor's  during  his  whole 
operations  in  Mexico,  and  indeed,  from  the  day  he  en 
camped  at  Corpus  Christi,  which  has  not  received  the 
approbation  of  his  government,  as  even  this  has,  of  the 
country,  is  the  terms  of  capitulation  granted  to  Mexico 
in  the  surrender  of  Monterey.  It  was  thought  by  the 
administration  that  he  should  have  insisted  upon  the 
unconditional  surrender  of  the  Mexican  army.  His 
course  was  not  only  condemned  by  the  President  and 
on  the  floor  of  Congress  by  prominent  friends  of  the 
administration,  but  an  indirect  vote  of  censure  was 
passed  by  the  lower  house  of  Congress  for  his  granting 
too  liberal  conditions  to  the  enemy.  The  general 
opinion  prevails  amongst  military  men,  however,  and 
those  best  competent  to  judge  of  the  power  of  General 
Taylor  to  enforce  more  favorable  terms,  that  they  were 
highly  honorable  to  the  American  arms,  and  advan- 


234  GENERAL    TA^LOfl's    DEFENCE. 

tageous  to  the  government ;  and  further,  that  they  were 
such  as  humanity  and  a  proper  regard  for  the  lives  of 
his  soldiers  dictated.  He  might  have  insisted,  and 
possibly  have  forced  an  unconditional  submission ;  but 
it  would  have  been  at  a  sacrifice  that  the  advantages 
thus  acquired,  would  not  have  warranted.  The  best 
explanation,  however,  of  Taylor's  motives,  and  the  best 
defence  of  his  conduct,  will  be  found  in  the  following 
reply  to  the  letter  of  the  Secretary  of  War  : 

"  In  reply  to  so  much  of  the  communication  of  the 
Secretary  of  War,  dated  October  13th,  as  relates  to  the 
reasons  which  induced  the  convention  resulting  in  the 
capitulation  of  Monterey,  I  have  the  honor  to  submit 
the  following  remarks : 

"  The  convention  presents  two  distinct  points. 
First,  the  permission  granted  the  Mexican  army  to  re 
tire  with  their  arms,  &c.  Secondly,  the  temporary  ces 
sation  of  hostilities  for  the  term  of  eight  weeks.  I  shall 
remark  on  these  in  order. 

"  The  force  with  which  I  marched  on  Monterey  was 
limited  by  causes  beyond  my  control  to  about  six  thou 
sand  men.  With  this  force,  as  every  military  man 
must  admit,  who  has  seen  the  ground,  it  was  entirely 
impossible  to  invest  Monterey  so  closely  as  to  prevent 
the  escape  of  the  garrison.  Although  the  main  com 
munication  with  the  interior  was  in  our  possession,  yet 
one  route  was  open  to  the  Mexicans  throughout  the 
operations,  and  could  not  be  closed,  as  were  also  other 
minor  tracks  and  passes  through  the  mountains.  Had 
we,  therefore,  insisted  on  more  rigorous  terms  than  those 
granted,  the  result  would  have  been  the  escape  of  the 
body  of  the  Mexican  force,  with  the  destruction  of  its 
artillery  and  magazines,  our  only  advantage  being  the 
capture  of  a  few  prisoners  of  war,  at  the  expense  of 


TAYLOR'S  REASONS  FOR  ins  CONDUCT.          235 

valuable  lives  and  much  damage  to  the  city.  The  con 
sideration  of  humanity  was  present  to  my  mind  during 
the  conference  which  led  to  the  convention,  and  out 
weighed  in  my  judgment' the  doubtful  advantages  to  h<* 
gained  by  a  resumption  of  the  attack  upon  the  town. 
This  conclusion  has  been  fully  confirmed  by  an  inspec 
tion  of  the  enemy's  position  and  means  since  the  sur 
render.  It  was  discovered  that  his  principal  magazine, 
containing  an  immense  amount  of  powder,  was  in  the 
Cathedral,  completely  exposed  to  our  shells  from  two 
directions.  The  explosion  of  this  mass  of  powder, 
which  must  have  ultimately  resulted  from  a  continuance 
of  the  bombardment,  would  have  been  infinitely  disas 
trous,  involving  the  destruction  not  only  of  Mexican 
troops,  but  of  non-combatants,  and  even  our  own  peo 
ple,  had  we  pressed  the  attack.  % 

"  In  regard  to  the  temporary  cessation  of  hostilities, 
the  fact  that  we  are  not  at  this  moment,  within  eleven 
days  of  the  termination  of  the  period  fixed  by  the  con 
vention,  prepared  to  move  forward  in  force,  is  a  suffi 
cient  explanation  of  the  military  reasons  which  dictated 
this  suspension  of  arms.  It  paralyzed  the  enemy  dur 
ing  a  period  when,  from  the  want  of  necessary  means, 
we  could  not  possibly  move.  I  desire  distinctly  to  state, 
and  to  call  the  attention  of  the  authorities  to  the  fact, 
that,  with  all  diligence  in  breaking  mules  and  setting  up 
wagons,  the  first  wagons  in  addition  to  our  original 
train  from  Corpus  Christi,  (and  but  one  hundred  and 
twenty-five  in  number,)  reached  my  head-quarters  on 
the  same  day  with  the  secretary's  communication  of 
October  13th,  viz  :  the  2nd  inst.  At  the  date  of  the 
surrender  of  Monterey,  our  force  had  not  more  than 
ten  days'  rations,  and  even  now,  with  all  our  endeavors, 
we  have  not  more  than  twenty-five.  THE  TASK  OP 


236  DEFENCE    CONTINUED. 

FIGHTING  AND  BEATING    THE  ENEMY   IS  AMONG  THE  LEAST 

DIFFICULT  THAT  WE  ENCOUNTER — the  great  question  of 
supplies  necessarily  controls  all  the  operations  in  a 
country  like  this.  At  the  date  o'f  the  convention,  I  could 
not  of  course  have  foreseen  that  the  Department  would 
direct  an  important  detachment  from  my  command 
without  consulting  me,  or  without  waiting  the  result  of 
the  main  operation  under  my  orders. 

"  I  have  touched  the  prominent  military  points  in 
volved  in  the  convention  of  Monterey.  There  were 
other  considerations  which  weighed  with  the  commis 
sioners  in  framing  and  with  myself  in  approving  the 
articles  of  the  convention.  In  the  conference  with  Gen 
eral  Ampudia,  I  was  distinctly  told  by  him  that  he  had 
invited  it  to  spare  the  further  effusion  of  blood,  and  be 
cause  General  Santa  Anna  had  declared  himself  favo 
rable  to  peace.  I  knew  that  our  government  had  made 
propositions  to  that  of  Mexico  to  negotiate,  and  I  deemed 
that  the  change  of  government  in  that  country  since 
my  last  instructions,  fully  warranted  me  in  entertaining 
considerations  of  policy.  My  grand  motive  in  moving 
forward  with  very  limited  supplies  had  been  to  increase 
the  inducements  of  the  Mexican  Government  to  nego 
tiate  for  peace.  Whatever  may  be  the  actual  views  or 
disposition  of  the  Mexican  rulers  or  of  General  Santa 
Anna,  it  is  not  unknown  to  the  Government  that  I  had 
the  very  best  reason  for  believing  the  statement  of  Gen 
eral  Ampudia  to  be  true.  It  was  my  opinion  at  the 
time  of  the  convention,  and  it  has  not  been  changed, 
that  the  liberal  treatment  of  the  Mexican  army  and  the 
suspension  of  arms,  would  exert  none  but  a  favorable 
influence  in  our  behalf. 

"  The  result  of  the  entire  operation  has  been  to  throw 
the  Mexican  army  back  more  than  three  hundred  miles 


THE  ADVANTAGES  OF  THE  TERMS.       237 

to  the  city  of  San  Luis  Potosi,  and  to  open  the  country 
to  us  as  far  as  we  choose  to  penetrate  it  up  to  the  same 
point. 

"  It  has  been  my  purpose  in  this  communication  not 
so  much  to  defend  the  convention  from  the  censure 
which  I  deeply  regret  to  find  implied  in  the  secretary's 
letter,  as  to  show  that  it  was  not  adopted  without  co 
gent  reasons,  most  of  which  occur  of  themselves  to  the 
minds  of  all  who  are  acquainted  with  the  condition  of 
things  here.  To  that  end  I  beg  that  it  may  be  laid  be 
fore  the  General-in-Chief  and  Secretary  of  War." 

No  farther  justification  of  the  conduct  of  General 
Taylor,  for  the  terms  of  the  capitulation,  will  be  re 
quired,  it  is  confidently  believed,  than  this  plain,  but  dig 
nified  and  unanswerable  statement  of  the  reasons  that 
influenced  him  in  not  demanding  more  rigid  conditions 
from  an  enemy  yet  greatly  superior  to  his  own  force, 
and  capable  of  a  long  and  bloody  resistance,  or  of  cut 
ting  their  way  from  the  city.  He  gained  all  the  ad 
vantages  of  a  substantial  victory,  and  only  submitted 
to  an  armistice  of  eight  weeks  because  he  had  not  the 
power  to  prosecute  further  operations  in  his  then  weak 
ened  condition.  And  while  he  consented  to  suspend 
hostilities  until  he  should  be  able  to  resume  them,  he 
tied  the  hands  of  his  enemy  during  the  same  time.  If, 
therefore,  he  conceded  to  the  Mexicans  certain  advan 
tages,  he  did  so  because  he  had  not  the  ability  to  with 
hold  them. 

In  reference  to  the  concluding  sentence  of  the  fore 
going  letter,  it  is  proper  to  remark,  that  the  correspond 
ence  of  General  Taylor  is  addressed  to  the  "  Adjutant- 
General  of  the  army,"  at  head-quarters  in  Washington. 
On  the  day  after  it  bears  date,  General  Taylor  again 
wrote  to  the  Department,  saying:  "I  have  formally 


238         LETTER,  FROM  GENERAL  TAYLOR. 

notified  the  Mexican  general-in-chief  that  the  tempo 
rary  suspension  of  arms  agreed  upon  in  the  convention 
of  Monterey  will  cease  on  the  13th  instant,  the  date  at 
which  the  notice  will  probably  reach  San  Luis  Po- 
tosi.  This  notification  was  sent  by  Major  Graham, 
topographical  engineer,  who  lefton  the  6th  instant. 

"  You  will  perceive  from  my  '  orders'  No.  139,  what 
arrangements  have  been  made  for  the  occupation  of 
Saltillo  at  the  earliest  moment  by  our  troops.  Whether 
our  operations  are  pushed  forward  towards  San  Luis 
or  not,  the  occupation  of  Saltillo  is  important — politi 
cally,  as  the  capital  of  Coahuila,  and,  in  a  military 
view,  as  covering  an  important  region  from  which  we 
may  draw  supplies. 

"  Brigadier-General  Wool,  with  a  portion  of  his 
force,  arrived  at  Monclova  on  the  29th  of  October,  and 
is  now  joined  by  the  rear  division.  He  reports  no 
practicable  route  to  Chihuahua,  except  the  one  by  Par- 
ras,  which  will  bring  him  within  a  few  leagues  of  Sal 
tillo.  He  inquires  what  is  to  be  gained  by  going  to 
Chihuahua  ?  And  I  am  free  to  answer,  nothing  at  all 
commensurate  with  the  excessive  length  of  his  line  of 
operations.  Chihuahua,  moreover,  is  virtually  con 
quered,  and  can  be  occupied  at  any  moment,  while  we 
hold  Saltillo  and  Santa  Fe.  I  shall  instruct  General 
Wool  to  remain  at  Monclova,  where  there  are  supplies, 
until  I  can  determine  what  disposition  to  make  of  his 
column,  which  cannot  be  done  until  I  visit  Saltillo. 

"  I  have  taken  the  first  steps  towards  organizing  the 
expedition  on  Tampico,  and  propose  to  accompany  it, 
for  the  purpose  at  least  of  commanding  a  covering 
force.  There  will  be  some  delay  for  the  want  of 
means  of  land  transport. 

"  The  information  received  since  my  communication 


HIS    CONTEMPLATED    MOVEMENTS.  239 

of  October  15th,  relative  to  the  route  hence  to  San 
Luis,  renders  it  more  than  probable  that,  from  the 
want  of  permanent  water,  it  will  be  impossible  to 
march  a  large  force  from  Saltillo  to  that  city.  I  hope 
to  acquire  certain  information  on  this  poiilt  in  a  few 
days." 

General  Taylor  wrote  from  his  camp  near  Monte 
rey,  on  the  12th  of  November,  as  follows  :  "  The  com 
munication  of  the  Secretary  of  War  of  October  22, 
with  its  inclosures,  by  the  hands  of  Major  McLane, 
was  received  this  morning.  You  will  have  seen  by 
my  orders,  and  my  dispatch  of  the  9th,  wrhat  meas 
ures  have  been  taken  to  conclude  the  armistice  and  to 
occupy  Saltillo.  Being  advised  by  special  express  from 
Matamoras  of  Major  Me  Lane's  approach,  I  had  post 
poned  my  intended  departure  this  day  for  Saltillo,  until 
his  arrival.  As  I  deem  it  still  important  to  occupy 
that  position,  for  reasons  to  be  explained  below,  I  shall 
inarch  thither  to-morrow,  according  to  my  first  inten 
tion.  On  my  return — say  by  the  20th  instant — I  shall 
probably  be  able  to  inform  the  Department  more  fully 
on  certain  important  points  connected  with  our  oper 
ations  ;  but  I  now  avail  myself  of  the  return  of  Major 
McLane  to  Washington,  to  state  briefly  my  views  on 
some  of  the  topics  embraced  in  the  secretary's  commu 
nication. 

"  Without  active  operations  towards  San  Luis  Po- 
tosi  from  this  quarter,  I  still  deem  the  occupation  of 
Saltillo  important  for  three  reasons  :  First,  as  a  neces 
sary  outpost  of  the  main  force  at  Monterey,  covering 
as  it  does  the  important  defile  which  leads  from  the  low 
country  to  the  table  land,  and  also  the  route  to  Mon- 
clova :  Secondly,  as  controlling  a  region  from  which 
we  may  obtain  considerable  supplies  of  breadstuffs  and 


17 


240  SUGGESTIONS    TO    HIS    GOVERNMENT. 

cattle,  viz. :  the  fertile  country  around  Parras :  and, 
Thirdly,  as  the  capital  of  Coahuila,  which  renders  it 
very  important  in  a  political  point  of  view. 

"  I  have  already  represented  to  the  department  the 
difficulties  to  be  encountered  in  a  forward  movement 
upon  San  Luis,  and  the  amount  of  force  which  would 
be  necessary  to  insure  success.  Those  reasons  only 
apply  to  the  country  beyond  Saltillo.  I  consider  the 
occupation  of  that  point  as  a  necessary  complement  to 
our  operations,  and  to  the  policy  of  holding  a  defensive 
line,  as  the  Sierra  Madre,  and  trust  the  Department 
will  concur  with  me  in  this  view. 

"  As  already  reported,  Brigadier-General  Wool  is 
now  at  Monclova,  having  found  no  practicable  route 
to  Chihuahua,  save  the  wrell-known  but  very  circuitous 
one  by  Parras.  I  fully  agree  with  the  Department 
that  no  commensurate  benefit  is  likely  to  result  from 
the  march  on  Chihuahua  of  General  Wool's  column, 
and  shall  accordingly  direct  him  to  suspend  his  move 
ment  in  that  direction.  The  occupation  of  Saltillo  in 
force  renders  it  still  less  necessary  that  Chihuahua 
should  be  occupied.  I  cannot  yet  determine  specifi 
cally  what  disposition  to  make  of  General  Wool's  col 
umn.  Meanwhile  I  have  directed  him  to  remain  in 
his  present  position  until  further  orders. 

"  In  regard  to  the  expedition  against  Vera  Cruz  after 
a  good  deal  of  reflection  upon  the  subject,  I  feel  bound 
to  express  my  conviction  that  four  thousand  men  will 
be  a  force  quite  too  small  for  the  purpose  contemplated. 
In  my  dispatch  of  October  15th,  I  stated  twenty- five 
thousand  troops,  of  which  ten  thousand  were  to  be  reg 
ulars,  as  the  least  force  that  should  make  a  descent  in 
that  quarter,  with  the  view  of  marching  on  the  capita  I 
I  now  consider  -that,  simply  to  invest  and  take  Vera 


FORCE    RECiUIRED    TO    TAKE    VERA    CRUZ.  241 

Cruz,  and  of  course  hold  the  position,  we  should  have 
ten  thousand  troops,  of  which  four  thousand,  if  possible, 
should  be  regulars.  It  is  quite  probable  that  a  smaller 
force,  even  four  thousand,  might  effect  a  landing  and 
carry  the  town ;  but  could  they  sustain  themselves  till 
the  castle  of  San  Juan  de  Ulloa  should  be  reduced  by 
famine  ?  The  country  lying  between  Vera  Cruz  and 
the  city  of  Mexico  is  populous,  and  at  least  one  portion 
(Puebla)  understood  to  be  very  loyal.  Would  not  a 
force  be  brought  against  us,  before  the  castle  could  be 
reduced,  sufficiently  strong  to  endanger  our  safety,  cut 
off  as  we  should  be  from  succor  ?  When  to  these  con 
siderations  we  add  the  uncertainty  of  weather  during 
the  winter  season,  rendering  our  communications  with 
the  fleet  liable  to  interruption,  I  think  it  will  be  seen 
that  the  force  should  be  large  enough  not  only  to  land 
and  invest  the  town,  but  also  to  hold  itself  secure 
against  any  attack  from  the  interior,  and  for  such  pur 
pose  I  consider  ten  thousand  men  quite  as  small  a  force 
as  should  be  ventured. 

"  A  force  of  ten  thousand  men  cannot  be  spared  from 
the  occupation  of  the  line  of  the  Sierra  Madre ;  four 
thousand  may  be  diverted  from  that  object ;  and  if  to 
these  six  thousand  fresh  troops  from  the  United  States 
were  added  at  the  proper  time,  the  expedition  might 
be  undertaken  with  a  promise  of  success.  I  propose 
therefore,  to  proceed  with  the  preparation  for  a  move 
ment  on  Tampico,  and,  after  accomplishing  every 
thing  that  is  to  be  done  in  that  quarter,  I  will,  if  the 
Department  approve,  hold  four  thousand  men,  of  which 
perhaps  three  thousand  regulars,  ready  to  embark  at 
some  point  on  the  coast,  and  effect  a  junction  with  the 
additional  force  from  the  States.  The  movement  to 
wards  Tampico  will  not  produce  any  delay  if  my 


242  ESTABLISHES    HIMSELF    AT    MONTEREY. 

views  are  adopted  ;  and  1  consider  it  quite  important 
to  occupy  Victoria  and  the  lower  portion  of  Tamauli 
pas,  after  securing  properly  the  Ime  to  be  held  in  this 
quarter. 

"  I  conceive  it  all  important,  having  in  view  the 
Mexican  character,  that  as  little  should  be  left  to  acci 
dent  as  possible,  and  that  we  should  be  careful,  as  far 
as  human  foresight  can  provide,  to  avoid  the  smallest 
liability  to  disaster.  A  descent  upon  a  hostile  coast, 
notoriously  dangerous,  and  in  an  inclement  season  of 
the  year,  is  an  operation  requiring  the  most  careful 
preparations  and  exact  management,  and  possessing, 
under  the  most  favorable  circumstances,  more  or  less 
elements  of  failure.  It  seems  the  part  of  prudence, 
therefore,  to  take  a  sufficient  force  \*  meet  any  contin 
gency  that  may  arise. 

"  Being  pressed  for  time  I  have  given  my  views 
briefly,  and  perhaps  somewhat  crudely,  on  the  most 
important  points  presented  in  the  dispatch  of  the  sec 
retary.  There  are  other  topics  which  will  probably 
claim  my  attention,  but  which  must  be  now  passed 
over.  I  would  only  suggest  that,  in  the  event  of  an 
expedition  to  Vera  Cruz,  the  heavy  ordnance,  engi 
neers,  stores,  &c.,  should  be  shipped  direct  from  the 
North." 

After  the  reduction  of  Montery,  General  Taylor 
took  up  his  headquarters  in  that  city,  and  remained 
there  during  the  armistice,  or  until  it  should  be  termi 
nated  by  the  orders  of  either  the  American  or  Mexican 
gove  nments,  awaiting  reinforcements,  and  re-organi 
zing  and  disciplining  his  forces,  preparatory  to  his  con 
templated  movement  upon  San  Louis  Potosi.  He  was 
also  actively  employed  in  establishing  and  keeping  open 
a  line  of  communication  between  Monterey  and  the 


TAKES    POSSESSION    OF    SALTILL/  243 

Rio  Grande.  On  the  13th  of  November,  General  Tay 
lor  marched  to  Saltillo  in  company  with  General 
Worth's  command,  which  was  designed  to  operate 
against  that  city.  They  took  possession  of  it  without 
resistance.  General  Worth,  with  a  force  of  eight  hun 
dred  men,  was  left  in  command,  ana  General  Taylor 
returned  to  Monterey.  General  Wool,  who  was  at 
Monclova,  with  a  force  of  two  thousand  four  hundred 
men,  was  ordered,  by  General  Taylor,  to  take  posses 
sion  of  Parras. 

In  the  meantime  Santa  Anna,  who  had  returned 
from  exile,  at  Havana,  had  assembled  an  army  of 
twrenty-two  thousand  men,  and  concentrated  it  upon 
San  Louis  Potosi.  This  city  he  strongly  fortified,  and 
made  it  a  depot  for  all  kinds  of  provisions  and  military 
stores.  After  waiting  in  vain  for  many  wreeks  for  the 
advance  of  this  powerful  army  to  attack  him  at  Mon 
terey,  General  Taylor  resolved  to  make  a  demonstra 
tion  towards  San  Louis,  with  a  ^iew  of  drawing  him 
out,  and  obtaining  a  battle.  Or.  'le  15th  of  December, 
therefore,  he  left  Monterey  with  two  regiments  of  vol 
unteers,  having  three  days  previously  dispatched  Gene 
ral  Twiggs,  with  the  main  body  of  the  regulars,  to  form 
a  junction  with  General  Patterson  at  Victoria.  On  ar 
riving  at  Montemorales,  however,  a  messenger  reached 
him  from  Saltillo,  informing  him  that  General  Worth, 
the  commander  at  that  place,  was  hourly  expecting  an 
attack  from  Santa  Anna,  at  the  head  of  his  whole  army. 
He  therefore  immediately  gave  orders  for  counter 
marching,  and  falling  back  upon  Monterey,  and  from 
thence  took  up  his  line  of  inarch  for  Saltillo  on  the  20th, 
accompanied  by  Genera]  Twiggs'  division  of  regulars. 
But  here  again  be  was  doomed  to  be  disappointed  in 
meeting  the  enemy.  Before  he  reached  Saltillo,  V 


244  SCOTT    ORDERED    TO    MEXICO. 

learned  that  General  Worth  had  been  reinforced,  by 
the  arrival  of  General  Wool's  command,  and  that  Santa 
Anna  had  retreated  to  his  old  quarters  at  San  Louis 
Potosi.  General  Taylor,  in  consequence  of  this  new 
aspect  of  affairs,  again  started  for  Victoria,  and  reached 
there  on  the  30th  of  December. 

While  at  this  place,  he  received  information  that 
General  Scott  had  been  ordered  to  Mexico  with  the 
view  of  commanding  in  person  the  troops  destined  for 
the  reduction  of  Vera  Cruz.  Being  the  commander-in- 
chief  of  the  army,  this  act  would,  as  a  matter  of  course, 
place  General  Taylor  in  a  subordinate  position  to  him. 
But  it  was  understood  that  it  was  at  the  request  of 
Taylor  that  Scott  was  sent  to  Mexico.  Upon  receiv 
ing  orders  to  repair  to  Mexico,  General  Scott  wrote 
the  Following  letter  to  his  old  friend  and  companion  in 
arms,  for  the  purpose  of  informing  him  of  his  object 
and  intention.  The  letter  was  marked  confidential, 
but  was  published  with  the  correspondence  between 
General  Taylor  and  the  Secretary  of  War,  called  for 
by  Congress.  It  is  dated  at  New  York,  November  23, 
1846,  after  Scott  had  departed  from  Washington  for 
Mexico : 

"  I  left  Washington  late  in  the  day  yesterday,  and 
expect  to  embark  for  New  Orleans  the  20th  inst.  By 
the  12th  of  December  I  may  be  in  that  city,  at  Point 
Isabel  the  17th,  and  Camargo,  say  the  23d — in  order 
to  be  within  easy  corresponding  distance  from  you.  It 
is  not  probable  that  I  may  be  able  to  visit  Monterey, 
and  circumstances  may  prevent  your  coming  to  me.  I 
shall  much  regret  not  having  an  early  opportunity  of 
felicitating  you  in  person  upon  your  many  brilliant 
achievements ;  but  we  may  meet  somewhere  in  the  in 
terior  of  Mexico. 


SCOTT'S    LETTER    TO    TAYLOR.  245 

"  I  am  not  coming,  my  dear  general,  to  supersede 
you  in  the  immediate  command  on  the  line  of  opera 
tions  rendered  illustrious  by  you  and  your  gallant  army. 
My  proposed  theatre  is  different.  You  may  imagine 
it ;  and  I  wish  very  much  that  it  were  prudent,  at  this 
distance,  to  tell  you  all  that  I  expect  to  attempt  or  hope 
to  execute.  I  have  been  admonished  that  dispatches 
have  been  lost,  and  I  have  no  special  messenger  at 
hand.  Your  imagination  will  be  aided  by  the  letters 
of  the  Secretary  of  War,  conveyed  by  Mr.  Armistead, 
Major  Graham,  and  Mr.  M'Lane. 

But,  my  dear  general,  I  shall  be  obliged  to  take  from 
you  most  of  the  gallant  officers  and  men,  (regulars  and 
volunteers,)  whom  you  have  so  long  and  so  nobly  com 
manded.  I  am  afraid  that  I  shall,  by  imperious  neces 
sity — the  approach  of  yellow  fever  on  the  Gulf  coast— re 
duce  you,  for  a  time,  to  stand  on  tne  defensive.  This  will 
be  infinitely  painful  to  you,  and  for  that  reason  distress 
ing  to  me.  But  I  rely  upon  your  patriotism  to  submit 
to  the  temporary  sacrifice  with  cheerfulness.  No  man 
can  better  afford  to  do  so.  Recent  victories  place  you 
on  the  high  eminence ;  and  I  even  flatter  myself  that 
any  benefit  that  may  result  to  me,  personally,  from  the 
unequal  division  of  troops  alluded  to,  will  lessen  the 
pain  of  your  consequent  inactivity. 

"  You  will  be  aware  of  the  recent  call  for  nine  regi 
ments  of  new  volunteers,  including  one  of  Texas 
horse.  The  president  may  soon  ask  for  many  more ; 
and  we  are  not  without  hope  that  Congress  may  add 
ten  or  twelve  to  the  regular  establishment.  These,  by 
the  spring,  say  April,  may,  by  the  aid  of  large  bounties, 
be  in  the  field — should  Mexico  not  earlier  propose 
terms  of  accommodation ;  and,  long  before  the  spring 


240  HIS    INTENTIONS. 

(March,)  it  is  probable  you  will  be  again  in  force  to 
resume  offensive  operations. 

"  It  was  not  possible  for  me  to  find  time  to  write 
from  Washington,  as  I  much  desired.  I  only  received 
an  intimation  to  hold  myself  in  preparation  for  Mexico, 
on  the  18th  instant.  Much  has  been  done  towards 
that  end,  and  more  remains  to  be  executed. 

"  Your  detailed  report  of  the  operations  at  Monterey, 
and  reply  to  the  secretary's  dispatch,  by  Lieutenant 
Armistead,  were  both  received  two  days  after  I  was 
instructed  to  proceed  south." 

This  letter,  it  will  be  seen,  indicates  to  General 
Taylor  the  probability  that  he  will  be  compelled  to 
take  from  him  a  considerable  portion  of  his  troops,  as 
well  volunteers  as  regulars.  The  necessity  for  this  act 
he  alleges  to  be  the  importance  of  taking  Vera  Cruz 
before  the  approach  of  the  season  for  the  yellow  fever, 
or  vomito,  to  make  its  appearance  on  the  Gulf.  The 
following  extract  from  a  letter  of  the  Secretary  of  War 
to  General  Taylor,  dated  October  22,  1846,  a  short 
time  before  General  Scott  departed  for  Mexico,  will 
show  that  in  withdrawing  so  large  a  number  of  Gen 
eral  Taylor's  forces  from  him,  he  was  but  carrying  out 
the  wishes  of  the  administration,  and  was  acting  under 
instructions  from  the  War  Department : 

"  I  informed  you  in  my  last  dispatch,  that  in  connec 
tion  with  an  invasion  of  Tamauhpas  and  attack  on 
Tampico,  an  expedition  against  Vera  Cruz  was  then 
under  advisement.  Upon  a  more  full  consideration  of 
the  subject,  it  is  believed  that  Vera  Cruz  may  be  taken, 
and  having  possession  of  that  city,  the  castle  of  San 
Juan  de  Ulloa  might  probably  be  reduced  or  compelled 
to  surrender.  If  the  expedition  could  go  forth  without 
the  object  being  known  to  the  enemy,  it  is  supposed 


WITHDRAWAL    OF    TAYLOfi's    FORCES.  247 

'hat  four  thousand  troops  would  be  sufficient  for  the 
enterprise,  receiving  as  they  would  the  co-operation  of 
our  naval  force  in  the  Gulf;  but  at  least  fifteen  hun 
dred  or  two  thousand  of  them  should  be  of  the  regular 
army,  and  under  the  command  of  officers  best  calculated 

for  such  an  undertaking.  In  looking  at  the  disposition 
of  the  troops,  it  appears  to  be  scarcely  possible  to  get 
the  requisite  number  of  regulars  without  drawing  some 
of  those  now  with  you  at  Monterey,  or  on  the  way  to 
that  place.  Should  you  decide  against  holding  military 
possession  of  any  place  in  Coahuila  or  Chihuahua,  and 
order  the  troops  under  General  Wool  to  join  you, 
it  is  presumed  that  the  requisite  force  for  the  expedi 
tion  to  Vera  Cruz  could  be  detached  without  interfer 
ing  with  your  plans  of  operation. 

"  You  will  therefore,  unless  it  materially  interferes 
with  your  own  plan  of  operations,  or  weakens  you  too 
much  in  your  present  position,  make  the  necessary 
arrangements  for  having  four  thousand  men,  of  whom 
fifteen  hundred  cr  two  thousand  should  be  regular 
troops,  ready  to  embark  for  Vera  Cruz,  or  such  other 
destination  as  may  be  given  them,  at  the  earliest  prac 
ticable  period.  The  place  of  embarkation  will  prob 
ably  be  the  Brazos  Santiago,  or  in  that  vicinity." 

Accordingly,  about  the  first  of  January,  the  divis 
ions  of  Generals  Patterson  and  Pillow,  and  also  the 
brigades  of  Generals  Quitman  and  Twiggs,  as  well  as 
General  Worth,  were  all  detached  from  him  for  the 
purpose  of  acting  under  General  Scott,  against  Vera 
Cruz  and  such  other  points  as  might  dispute  his  march 
to  the  capital.  Of  the  policy  or  necessity  of  thus 
withdrawing  from  General  Taylor  so  large  a  portion 
of  his  troops,  it  is  difficult  to  form  a  correct  judgment 
at  this  distance  from  the  scene  of  operations,  and  wi*h 


248  TAYLOR'S  ADDRESS  TO  HIS  TROOPS. 

the  imperfect  knowledge  of  the  views  of  government 
that  everyone  must  possess  not  in  the  immediate  con 
fidence  of  the  administration.  But  it  is  certain  that  it 
placed  him  in  a  most  embarrassing  and  even  dangerous 
position.  Upon  taking  leave  of  his  veteran  soldiers, 
the  heroes  of  Palo  Alto,  Resaca  de  la  Palma,  and 
Monterey,  he  addressed  them  in  the  following  brief, 
but  manly  and  feeling  terms  : 

"It  is  with  deep  sensibility  that  the  commanding 
general  finds  himself  separated  from  the  troops  he  so 
long  commanded.  To  those  corps,  regular  and  volun 
teer,  who  have  shared  with  him  the  active  services  of 
the  field,  he  feels  the  attachment  due  to  such  associa 
tions,  while  to  those  who  are  making  their  first  cam 
paign,  he  must  express  his  regret  that  he  cannot  par 
ticipate  with  them  in  its  eventful  scenes.  To  all,  both 
officers  and  men,  he  extends  his  heartfelt  wishes  for 
their  continued  success  and  happiness,  confident  that 
their  achievements  on  another  theatre  will  redound  to. 
the  credit  of  their  country  and  its  arms." 

General  Taylor  continued  at  Victoria  until  about 
the  last  of  January,  1847,  when  he  returned  to  Mon 
terey.  His  force  now  consisted  of  volunteers,  with 
the  exception  of  about  four  hundred  and  fifty  regular 
troops,  including  Colonel  May's  dragoons.  In  the  be 
ginning  of  February  he  was  reinforced  by  new  volun 
teers,  which  increased  his  army  to  about  six  thousand 
men.  With  this  small  force,  composed  mostly  of  men 
who  had  never  faced  an  enemy,  and  comparatively 
destitute  of  discipline,  but  longing  to  prove  by  their 
conduct  that  volunteers  know  howr  to  fiiiht,  and  can  as 
steadily  resist  the  attack  of  the  foe,  or  as  successfully 
charge  upon  him,  as  even  veteran  soldiers,  General 


SURPRISE    OF    COLOXEL    MAY.  249 

Taylor  must  garrison  Monterey,  and  hold  in  check  the 
overwhelming  army  of  Santa  Anna. 

Immediately  after  arriving  at  Monterey,  General 
Taylor  received  information  that  a  party  of  observa 
tion,  consisting  of  about  one  hundred  picked  men, 
under  Colonel  May,  had  been  surprised  at  Encarna- 
cion,  while  attempting  to  gain  some  intelligence  of  the 
enemy,  and  that  Captain  Cassius  M.  Clay,  and  Majors 
Borland  and  Gaines  had  been  taken  prisoners  by  a 
Mexican  force,  under-  General  Minon,  of  fifteen  hun 
dred  men.  This  unwelcome  intelligence,  together  with 
the  belief  that  Santa  Anna  might  make  an  attempt  to 
re-conquer  some  of  the  posts  between  Monterey  and 
the  Rio  Grande,  and  thus  cut  off  his  communication 
with  Matamoras,  determined  General  Taylor  to  march 
at  once  to  Saltillo,  writh  the  view  of  giving  him  battle. 
He  accordingly  took  up  his  march  from  Monterey  on 
the  31st  of  January,  leaving  a  force  of  about  fifteen 
hundred  men  to  garrison  that  city,  and  arrived  at  Sal 
tillo  on  the  2d  of  February.  He  had  been  reinforced, 
in  the  meantime,  by  the  arrival  of  five  hundred  more 
volunteers,  which  made  the  effective  force  under  his 
command  five  thousand  strong.  Two  days  after  he 
marched  to  Agua  Nueva,  a  strong  position,  twenty 
miles  from  Saltillo,  on  the  San  Luis  side  of  that  city, 
and  encamped  there,  for  the  purpose  of  disciplining  his 
troops,  and  to  observe  the  movements  of  the  enemy. 
He  remained  in  this  position  until  the  21st  of  February, 
examining  the  situation  of  the  country,  the  passe4* 
through  the  mountains,  and  the  best  point  at  which  to 
await  an  attack  from  Santa  Anna,  should  he  resolve  to 
fight  on  any  terms.  On  the  21st,  information  wras 
brought  him  that  Santa  Anna  wras  advancing  at  the 
head  of  his  whole  army,  and  was  then  within  a  shoif 


250  TAYLOR    ENCAMPS    AT    BUENA    VJSTA. 

distance.  Believing  Buena  Vista,  a  point  twelve  miles 
nearer  to  Saltillo,  and  eight  miles  from  that  city,  to  be 
a  much  more  favorable  position  at  which  to  make  a 
stand  against  such  overwhelming  odds  as  Santa  Anna 
was  bringing  against  him,  he  fell  back  to  that  place, 
and  formed  his  army  in  order  of  battle,  and  calmly 
awaited  the  approach  of  the  enemy.  The  account  of 
the  battle  from  eye  witnesses,  and  General  Taylor's 
official  dispatch  of  the  brilliant  event,  will  be  found 
in  the  next  chapter. 


CHAPTER  VII. 

Battle  of  Buena  Vista. — Taylor's  Position. — General  Taylor's  Line  of 
Battle  formed. — A  Summons  to  Surrender. — The  Battle  Commenced. 
— An  Attempt  to  Outflank  Taylor. — Flight  of  the  Indiana  Regiment. 
— Great  Slaughter  amongst  the  Enemy. — Mexican  Stratagem. — Al 
most  a  Defeat. — Gallant  Charge  of  the  Kentucky  Regiment. — Ex 
citement  of  Taylor. — Death  of  Colonels  McKee  and  Hardin  and 
Lieutenant-Colonel  Clay. — Taylor's  Official  Account  of  the  Battle. 

ON  the  morning  of  the  21st,  our  army  being  encamped 
at  Agua  Nueva,  information  was  received  that  the  en 
emy  was  advancing,  when  General  Taylor  ordered  the 
troops  to  fall  back  upon  Buena  Vista.  Early  on  the 
22nd,  the  clouds  of  dust  towards  Agua  Nueva  told  that 
the  Mexican  army  was  on  the  advance.  At  about 
eleven  o'clock  the  long  roll  of  the  drum  summoned  us 
to  the  field.  Our  regiments  were  formed,  artillery 
posted,  and  we  availed  ourselves  of  every  advantage 
that  could  be  taken  of  the  ground.  In  a  few  minutes, 
the  leading  columns  of  the  enemy  were  distinctly  seen, 
at  a  distance  of  two  miles,  steadily  advancing  in  the 
most  perfect  order.  Some  two  thousand  lancers  with 
the  artillery,  fourteen  pieces  of  different  calibre,  from 
twenty-fours  down,  composed  the  leading  division ; 
then  such  a  host  of  infantry  and  lances  as  never  was 
seen  together  in  Mexico  before,  I  suppose,  came  into 
full  view  and  filed  into  position.  It  was  the  most  grand 
and  gorgeous  spectacle  I  ever  witnessed ;  the  sun  glan 
cing  from  the  bright  lances  and  bayonets  of  the  twenty- 


252  ADVANTAGES    OF    TAYLOR^    POSITION. 

one  thousand  men — the  rattling  of  their  artillery  car 
riages — the  prancing  of  their  richly  caparisoned  horses, 
and  the  continued  sound  of  their  bugles,  swelling  through 
the  air,  made  up  a  scene  never  to  be  described  or  for 
gotten. 

The  armies  in  line  of  battle  were  drawn  up  in  a 
mountain  pass.  On  our  right  was  a  deep  ravine,  im- 
praticable  to  be  turned  by  cavalry  or  artillery,  whilst 
on  our  left  the  mountains  of  "  Sierra  Madre,"  towered 
two  thousand  feet  in  the  skies.  A  spur  of  continuous 
hills,  running  from  the  mountain  nearly  to  the  ravine, 
was  occupied  by  our  troops — whilst  the  space  between 
the  spur  of  hills  and  the  ravine,  over  which  the  San 
Luis  road  runs,  was  occupied  by  five  pieces  of  light  ar 
tillery  commanded  by  Captain  Washington.  This  was 
our  centre,  and  was  most  gallantly  defended  by  the 
captain,  upon  whose  battery  the  enemy  played  four 
hours  with  six  twenty-four-pounders,  planted  within 
point-blank  range,  and  out  of  reach  of  his  sixes,  without 
making  the  slightest  impression  on  them.  Between  the 
two  armies  were  immense  ravines,  some  of  them  nearly 
fifteen  feet  deep,  the  sides  covered  with  loose  pebbles, 
and  the  bottom  extremely  precipitate  and  serpentine 
from  the  heavy  washing  rains.  A  smooth  piece  of 
ground  next  the  mountain,  and  between  it  and  the  head 
of  the  ravine,  some  three  hundred  yards  in  depth,  was 
the  most  accessible  point  for  turning  our  left  flank,  if, 
indeed,  an  army  of  five  thousand  two  hundred  men,  dis 
played  over  two  miles  of  ground,  in  the  presence  of 
such  a  host,  could  be  considered  as  having  a  flank. 
Overlooking  Washington's  battery,  and  within  near 
musket  shot,  is  a  high  hill,  on  the  crown  of  which  was 
posted  the  First  regiment  of  Illinois  volunteers,  to  cover 
Ue  bai'ery  and  save  the  centre. 


A    GORGEOUS    SCENE.  253 

As  soon  as  he  received  intelligence  of  Santa  Anna's 
approach,  General  Taylor  moved  forward  with  May's 
squadron  of  dragoons,  Sherman's  and  Bragg's  batteries 
of  artillery,  and  the  Mississippi  regiment  of  riflemen, 
under  Colonel  Davis,  and  arrived  at  the  position  which 
he  had  selected  for  awaiting  the  attack  of  the  enemy. 
The  time  and  the  place,  the  hour  and  the  man,  seemed 
to  promise  a  glorious  celebration  of  the  day.  It  was 
the  22nd  of  February,  the  anniversary  of  that  day  on 
which  the  God  of  battles  gave  to  freedom  its  noblest 
champion,  to  patriotism  its  purest  model ;  to  America 
a  preserver,  and  to  the  world  the  nearest  realization  of 
human  perfection — for  panegyric  sinks  before  the  name 
of  Washington. 

The  morning  was  bright  and  beautiful.  Not  a  cloud 
floated  athwart  the  firmament,  or  dimmed  the  azure  of 
the  sky,  and  the  flood  of  golden  radiance  which  gilded 
the  mountain  tops,  and  poured  over  the  valleys,  wrought 
light  and  shade  into  a  thousand  fantastic  forms.  A  soft 
breeze  swept  down  from  the  mountains,  rolling  into 
graceful  undulations  the  banner  of  the  Republic,  which 
was  proudly  streaming  from  the  towers  and  battlements 
of  Saltillo.  The  omens  were  all  in  our  favor. 

In  the  choice  of  his  position,  General  Taylor  had  ex 
hibited  the  same  comprehensible  sagacity  and  masterly 
coup  de'  ceil,  which  characterized  his  dispositions  at 
Resaca  de  la  Palma,  and  which  crowned  triumphantly 
all  his  operations  amid  the  blazing  lines  of  Monterey. 
The  mountains  rise  on  either  side  of  an  irregular  and 
broken  valley,  about  three  miles  in  width,  dotted  over 
with  hills  and  ridges,  and  scarred  with  broad  and  wind 
ing  ravines.  The  main  road  lies  along  the  course  of 
an  arroyo,  the  bed  of  which  is  now  so  deep  as  to  form 
an  almost  impassible  barrier,  while  the  other  side  is 


18 


254  GENERAL    TAYLOIl's    LINE    OF    BATTLE. 

bounded  by  precipitous  elevations,  stretching  perpen 
dicularly  towards  the  mountains,  and  separated  by  gul 
lies,  until  they  mingle  into  one  at  the  base  of  the  prin 
cipal  range.  On  the  right  of  the  narrowest  point  of  the 
road-way,  a  battalion  of  the  First  Illinois  regiment,  un 
der  Lieutenant-Colonel  Weatherford,  was  stationed  in 
a  small  trench,  extending  to  the  ravine,  while,  on  the 
opposite  height,  the  main  body  of  the  regiment,  under 
Colonel  Hardin,  was  posted,  with  a  single  piece  of  artil 
lery  from  Captain  Washington's  battery.  The  post  of 
honor  on  the  extreme  right,  was  assigned  to  Bragg's  ar 
tillery,  his  left  supported  by  the  Second  regiment  of 
Kentucky  foot,  under  Colonel  McKee,  the  left  flank  of 
which  rested  upon  the  arroyb.  Washington's  battery 
occupied  a  position  immediately  in  front  of  the  narrow 
point  of  the  road- way,  in  rear  of  which  and  somewhat 
to  the  left,  on  another  height,  the  Second  Illinois  regi 
ment,  under  Colonel  Bissel,  \vas  posted.  Next,  on  the 
left,  the  Indiana  brigade,  under  General  Lane,  was  de 
ployed,  while  on  the  extreme  left  the  Kentucky  cavalry, 
under  Colonel  Marshall,  occupied  a  position  directly 
under  the  frowning  summits  of  the  mountains.  The 
two  squadrons  of  First  and  Second  dragoons,  and  the 
Arkansas  cavalry  under  Colonel  Yell,  were  posted  in 
rear,  ready  for  any  service  which  the  exigencies  of  the 
day  might  require. 

The  dispositions  had  been  made  for  some  time,  when 
the  enemy  was  seen  advancing  in  the  distance,  and 
the  clouds  of  dust  which  rolled  up  before  him,  gave 
satisfactory  evidence  that  his  numbers  were  not  un 
worthy  the  trial  of  strength  upon  which  we  were  about 
to  enter.  He  arrived  upon  his  position  in  immense 
masses,  and  with  force  sufficiently  numerous  to  have 
commenced  his  attack  at  once,  had  he  been  as  confi- 


A    HUMANE    PROPOSITION.  255 

dent  of  success  as  it  subsequently  appeared  he  was 
solicitous  for  our  safety.  The  first  evidence  directly 
afforded  us  of  the  presence  of  Santa  Anna,  was  a  white 
flag,  which  was  dimly  seen  fluttering  in  the  breeze, 
and  anon  Surgeon  General  Lindenberg,  of  the  Mexican 
Army,  arrived,  bearing  a  beautiful  emblem  of  benevo 
lent  bravado  and  Christian  charity.  It  was  a  missive 
from  Santa  Anna,  suggested  by  considerations  for  our 
personal  comfort,  which  has  placed  us  under  lasting 
obligations,  proposing  to  General  Taylor  terms  of  un 
conditional  surrender,  promising  good  treatment ;  assur 
ing  us  that  his  force  amounted  to  upwards  of  twenty 
thousand  men,  that  our  defeat  was  inevitable,  and  that 
to  spare  the  effusion  of  blood,  his  proposition  should  be 
complied  with.  Strange  to  say,  the  American  General 
showed  the  greatest  ingratitude ;  evinced  no  appre 
ciation  whatever  of  Santa  Anna's  kindness,  and  in 
formed  him  that  whether  his  force  amounted  to  twenty 
thousand  or  fifty  thousand,  it  was  equally  a  matter  of 
indifference  :  the  terms  of  adjustment  must  be  arranged 
by  gunpowder. 

The  messenger  returned  to  his  employer,  and  we 
waited  in  silence  to  hear  the  roar  of  his  artillery. 
Hours  rolled  by  without  any  movement  on  his  part,  and 
it  appeared  that  the  Mexican  commander,  grieved  at 
our  stubbornness,  was  almost  disposed  to  retrace  his 
steps,  as  if  determined  to  have  no  further  intercourse 
with  such  ungrateful  audacity.  At  length,  he  mustered 
resolution  to  open  a  fire  from  a  mortar,  throwing  several 
shells  into  our  camp  without  execution.  While  this 
was  going  on,  Captain  Steene,  of  the  First  dragoons, 
with  a  single  man,  started  towards  a  hill  on  which  the 
Mexican  general  seemed  to  be  stationed  with  his  staff, 
but  before  he  completed  the  ascent,  the  party  vanished 


256  THE    ATTACK    COMMENCED. 

and  when  he  reached  the  top,  he  discovered  that  two 
regiments  had  thrown  themselves  into  squares  to  resist 
his  charge.  The  captain's  gravity  was  overcome  by 
this  opposition,  and  he  returned. 

The  Kentucky  cavalry  and  Arkansas  troops  were 
posted  "near  the  mountain,  and  as  skirmishers,  having 
been  first  dismounted,  brought  on  the  action,  at  half- 
past  four  o'clock,  on  the  22d,  by  engaging  about  fifteen 
hundred  of  the  enemy's  light  troops,  who  had  been 
deployed  on  the  top  of  the  mountain  to  turn  our  left.  Our 
riflemen  advanced  up  the  side  of  the  mountain,  extend 
ing  their  line  to  prevent  the  enemy's  flanking  them, 
and  fighting  as  they  toiled-  up  the  almost  perpendicular 
ascent,  until  the  whole  side  of  the  mountain,  from  base 
to  summit,  was  one  sheet  of  fire.  The  sight  was  a 
splendid  one,  and  our  hearts  warmed  towards  home  and 
country,  as  we  lay  upon  the  field,  contemplating  the 
scene  two  thousand  feet  above  us,  and  resolving  that 
the  next  day  should  witness  a  noble  victory,  or  a  disas 
trous  and  terrible  defeat.  The  firing  continued  until 
after  dark,  when  our  riflemen  retired,  the  enemy  re 
maining  in  possession  of  the  heights.  We  slept  upon 
our  arms,  on  what  was  to  be,  the  next  day,  a  ghastly 
field  of  carnage.  The  Second  Illinois  regiment,  which 
has  suffered  so  severely,  was  posted  about  eight  hun 
dred  yards  from  the  base  of  the  mountain  ;  the  Second 
Indiana  on  the  left,  and  three  pieces  of  light  artillery, 
commanded  by  Lieutenant  O'Brien,  between  us  and 
the  Indianians.  Our  position  was  that  upon  which  the 
enemy  would  advance,  it  was  supposed,  with  the 
heaviest  force  of  his  infantry,  and  was  to  be  desperately 
defended.  The  first  gun  on  the  23d  was  fired  at  day 
light,  and  the  firing  continued  until  darkness  put  an 
end  to  the  effusion  of  blood.  No  adequate  description 


COLONEL  HARDIN'S  CHARGE.  257 

of  the  fight  can  be  given ;  it  was  a  succession  of  brill 
iant  advances  and  disastrous  retreats  all  day — our  reg 
iments  advancing  to  attack  five  times  their  numbers, 
driving  them  with  great  loss,  until  the  enemy,  rein 
forced  by  fresh  regiments,  rallied,  and  in  their  turn, 
with  overwhelming  numbers,  compelled  us  to  fall  back. 

As  we  expected,  the  Mexican  infantry  advanced 
upon  us  in  three  columns,  composed  of  eight  regiments. 
Advancing  steadily  to  the  brow  of  the  hill,  the  first 
line  came  down  the  hill  a  few  paces ;  the  second  not 
quite  so  low,  and  the  third  upon  the  summit  of  the 
ravine  bank ;  the  most  distant  line  about  two  hundred 
yards  from  us.  Our  regiment  was  kneeling,  awaiting 
their  advance,  expecting  that  they  would  cross  the 
ravine,  and  would  have  but  two  regiments  to  fight  at 
once ;  but  the  instant  they  were  formed,  a  terrific  fire 
was  opened  upon  us  by  the  entire  force,  in  our  part  of 
not  less  than  four  thousand  regular  troops.  We  were 
here  ordered  to  open  upon  them,  and  for  thirty  minutes 
we  poured  into  them  as  galling  a  fire  as  ever  was  wit 
nessed — our  men  discharging  their  pieces  not  less  than 
twenty  times  within  point  blank.  Here  we  had  about 
sixty  officers  and  men  killed  and  wounded.  The  In- 
dianians  on  our  left  giving  way  early  in  the  fight, 
enabled  the  lancers  to  cross  the  ravine,  and  come 
down  upon  our  left  flank,  when  we  fell  back  some  two 
hundred  and  fifty  yards,  where  those  that  could  be 
rallied  halted  and  were  again  formed. 

The  Second  Kentucky,  commanded  by  Colonel  Mc- 
Kee,  were  ordered  to  our  support,  as  well  as  Colonel 
Hardin's  First  Illinoisians.  Poor  Hardin,  with  his 
gallant  regiment,  advanced  upon  them  to  our  relief, 
and  drove  back  the  enemy  to  our  left.  By  the  time 
the  Second  Kentucky  came  up,  we  were  again  rallied, 


258  AN    ATTEMPT    TO    OUTFLANK    TAYLOR. 

and  with  them  made  as  fine  a  charge  as  ever  was 
made,  driving  back  four  times  our  number,  killing  and 
wounding  an  immense  number  of  the  enemy,  and  cap 
turing  the  standard  of  the  First  battalion  of  Cuana- 
huoto,  which  was  taken  by  Captain  Raith,  of  St.  Clair 
county,  and  after  remaining  in  our  possession  all  day, 
was  unfortunately  lost  in  the  last  charge,  which  rob 
bed  the  nation  of  Hardin,  McKee  and  Clay. 

During  the  night  the  Mexicans  had  established  a 
twelve-pounder  on  a  point  at  the  base  of  the  moun 
tain,  which  commanded  any  position  which  could  be 
taken  by  us.  To  counteract  the  effect  of  this  piece, 
Lieutenant  O'Brien,  Fourth  artillery,  was  detached 
with  three  pieces  of  Washington's  battery,  having 
with  him  Lieutenant  Bryan,  of  the  Topographical  En 
gineers,  who,  having  planted  a  few  shells  in  the  midst 
of  the  enemy's  gunners,  for  the  time  effectually  silenced 
his  fire. 

From  the  movements,  soon  perceptible,  along  the 
left  of  our  line,  it  became  evident  that  the  enemy  was 
attempting  to  turn  that  flank,  and  for  this  purpose  had 
concentrated  a  large  body  of  cavalry  and  infantry  on 
his  right.  The  base  of  the  mountain  around  which 
these  troops  were  winding  their  wray,  seemed  girdled 
with  a  belt  of  steel,  as  their  glittering  sabres  and 
polished  lances  flashed  back  the  beams  of  the  morning 
sun.  Sherman's  and  Bragg's  batteries  were  imme 
diately  ordered  to  the  left :  Colonel  BisselPs  regiment 
occupied  a  position  between  them,  while  Colonel  Mc- 
Kee's  Kentuckians  were  transferred  from  the  right  of 
our  line,  so  as  to  hold  a  position  near  the  centre.  The 
Second  Indiana  regiment,  under  Colonel  Bowles,  was 
placed  on  our  extreme  left,  nearly  perpendicular  to  the 
direction  of  our  line,  so  as  to  oppose,  by  a  direct  fire, 


FLIGHT    OF    THE    INDIANA    REGIMENT.  259 

the  flank  movement  of  the  enemy.  These  dispositions 
'having  been  promptly  effected,  the  artillery  of  each 
army  opened  its  fire,  and,  simultaneously,  the  Mexi 
can  infantry  commenced  a  rapid  and  extended  dis 
charge  upon  our  line,  from  the  left  to  McKee's  regi 
ment.  Our  artillery  belched  forth  its  thunders  with 
tremendous  effect,  while  the  Kentuckians  returned  the 
fire  of  the  Mexican  infantry,  with  great  steadiness  and 
success  ;  their  field  officers,  McKee,  Clay  and  Fry, 
passing  along  their  line,  animating  and  encouraging 
the  men,  by  precept  and  example.  The  Second  Illinois 
regiment  also  received  the  enemy's  fire  with  great 
firmness,  and  returned  an  ample  equivalent.  While 
this  fierce  conflict  was  going  on,  the  main  body  of 
Colonel  Hardin's  regiment  moved  to  the  right  of  the 
Kentuckians,  and  the  representatives  of  each  state 
seemed  to  vie  with  each  other  in  the  honorable  am 
bition  of  doing  the  best  service  for  their  country.  Both 
regiments  gallantly  sustained  their  positions,  and  won 
unfading  laurels.  The  veterans  of  Austerlitz  could 
not  have  exhibited  more  courage,  coolness  and  de 
votion. 

In  the  meantime,  the  enemy's  cavalry  had  been 
stealthily  pursuing  its  way  along  the  mountain,  and 
though  our  artillery  had  wrought  great  havoc  among 
its  numbers,  the  leading  squadrons  had  passed  the  ex 
treme  points  of  danger,  and  were  almost  in  position  to 
attack  us  in  the  rear.  At  this  critical  moment,  the  In 
diana  regiment  turned  upon  its  proper  front,  and  com 
menced  an  inglorious  flight.  The  efforts  of  Colonel 
Bowles  to  bring  it  into  position  were  vain,  and  over 
hills  and  ravines  they  pursued  their  shameful  career, 
to  the  great  delight  of  the  enemy,  who  rent  the  air 
with  shouts  of  triumph.  Several  officers  of  General 


260  GREAT    HAVOC    AMONG    THE    ENEMY. 

Taylor's  staff  immediately  dashed  off,  to  arrest,  if  pos 
sible,  the  retreating  regiment,  and  restore  it  again  to 
reputation  and  to  duty.  Major  Dix,  of  the  Pay  De 
partment,  formerly  of  the  Seventh  infantry,  was  the 
first  to  reach  the  deserters,  and  seizing  the  colors  of 
the  regiment,  appealed  to  the  men,  to  know  whether 
they  had  determined  to  desert  them.  He  was  answered 
by  three  cheers,  showing,  that  though  the  men  had  lit 
tle  disposition  to  become  heroes  themselves,  they  were 
not  unmindful  of  an  act  of  distinguished  gallantry  on 
the  part  of  another.  A  portion  of  the  regiment  imme 
diately  rallied  around  him,  and  was  re-formed  by  the 
officers.  Dix,  in  person,  then  led  them  towards  the 
enemy,  until  one  of  the  men  volunteered  to  take  the 
flag.  The  party  returned  to  the  field,  and  though  not 
in  time  to  repair  the  disaster  which  their  flight  had 
created,  to  retrieve  in  a  slight  degree,  the  character  of 
the  state.  While  the  day,  however,  by  this  disgraceful 
panic,  was  fast  going  against  us,  the  artillery  was  ad 
vanced,  its  front  extended,  and  different  sections  and 
pieces  under  Sherman,  Bragg,  O'Brien,  Thomas,  Rey 
nolds,  Kilburn,  French,  and  Bryan,  were  working  such 
carnage  in  the  ranks  of  the  enemy  as  to  make  his  col 
umns  roll  to  and  fro,  like  ships  upon  the  billows.  His 
triumph  at  the  Indiana  retreat  was  but  for  a  moment, 
and  his  shouts  of  joy  were  soon  followed  by  groans  of 
anguish,  and  the  shrieks  of  expiring  hundreds. 

Washington's  battery  on  the  right,  had  now  opened 
its  fire,  and  driven  back  a  large  party  of  lancers,  ad 
vancing  in  that  direction.  Along  the  entire  line  the 
battle  raged  with  great  fury.  Twenty-one  thousand 
of  the  victims  of  Mexican  oppression  and  the  myrmi 
dons  of  Mexican  despotism,  were  arrayed  against  five 
thousand  Americans,  sent  forth  to  conquer  a  peace. 


ATTACK  UPON  OUR  TRAIN.  261 

The  discharges  of  the  infantry  followed  each  other 
more  rapidly  than  the  sounds  of  the  Swiss  bell-ringers 
in  the  fierce  fervor  of  a  finale,  and  the  volleys  of  artil 
lery  reverberated  through  the  mountains  like  the  thun 
ders  of  an  Alpine  storm. 

The  myriads  of  Mexican  cavalry  still  pressed  for 
ward  on  our  left,  and  threatened  a  charge  upon  tho 
Mississippi  rifles  under  Colonel  Davis,  who  had  been 
ordered  to  support  the  Indiana  regiment,  and  had  suc 
ceeded  in  preserving  a  fragment  of  it  in  position.  Col 
onel  Davis  immediately  threw  his  command  into  the 
form  of  a  V,  the  opening  towards  the  enemy,  and 
awaited  his  advance.  On  he  came,  dashing  with  all 
the  speed  of  Mexican  horses,  but  when  he  arrived  at 
that  point  from  which  could  be  seen  the  whites  of  his 
eyes,  both  lines  poured  forth  a  sheet  of  lead  that  scat 
tered  him  like  chaff,  felling  many  a  gallant  steed  to  the 
earth,  and  sending  scores  of  riders  to  the  sleep  that 
knows  no  waking. 

While  the  dispersed  Mexican  cavalry  were  rallying, 
the  Third  Indiana  regiment,  under  Colonel  Lane,  was 
ordered  to  join  Colonel  Davis,  supported  by  a  consid 
erable  body  of  horse.  About  this  time,  from  some  un 
known  reason,  our  wagon  train  displayed  its  length 
along  the  Saltillo  road,  and  offered  a  conspicuous  prize 
for  the  Mexican  lancers,  which  they  seemed  not  unwil 
ling  to  appropriate.  Fortunately,  Lieutenant  Rucker, 
with  a  squadron  of  the  First  dragoons,  (Captain  Steene 
having  been  previously  wounded,  and  Captain  Eustis 
confined  to  his  bed  by  illness,)  was  present,  and  by 
order  of  General  Taylor,  dashed  among  them  in  a 
most  brilliant  style,  dispersing  them  by  his  charge,  as 
effectually  as  the  previous  fire  of  the  Mississippi  rifle 
men.  May's  dragoons,  with  a  squadron  of  Arkansas 


262  A    MEXICAN    STRATAGEM. 

cavalry,  under  Captain  Pike,  and  supported  by  a  single 
piece  of  artillery,  under  Lieutenant  Reynolds,  now 
claimed  their  share  in  the  discussion,  and  when  the 
Mexicans  had  again  assembled,  they  had  to  encounter 
another  shock  from  the  two  squadrons,  besides  a  fierce 
fire  of  grape  from  Reynolds'  six-pounder.  The  lan 
cers  once  more  rallied,  and  directing  their  course  to 
wards  the  Saltillo  road,  were  met  by  the  remainder  of 
Colonel  Yell's  regiment  and  Marshall's  Kentuckians, 
who  drove  them  towards  the  mountains  on  the  oppo 
site  side  of  the  valley,  where,  from  their  appearance 
when  last  visible,  it  may  be  presumed,  they  are  still 
running.  In  this  precipitate  movement,  they  were 
compelled  to  pass  through  a  rancho,  in  which  many 
of  our  valiant  comrades  had  previously  taken  refuge, 
who,  from  this  secure  retreat,  opened  quite  an  effec 
tive  fire  upon  them.  Several  hundreds  of  the  Arkan 
sas  cavalry  were  so  well  satisfied  with  the  result  of 
this  single  effort,  that  they  deemed  it  unnecessary  to 
make  another,  and  accordingly  kept  on  their  way  to 
town,  and  there  reported  General  Taylor  as  in  full  re 
treat. 

About  two  o'clock  in  the  day,  the  Second  Kentucky 
and  Second  Illinois,  who  had  never  retired  more  than 
three  hundred  yards  from  where  we  had  received 
the  enemy's  first  fire,  were  lying  in  the  head  of  two 
ravines,  under  cover  from  the  enemy's  artillery,  who 
had  taken  post  upon  the  ground  abandoned  by  the  In 
diana  regiment,  and  were  driving  a  torrent  of  round 
shot,  grape  and  canister  amongst  us,  when  suddenly  the 
firing  ceased,  and  four  officers,  at  their  utmost  speed, 
came  galloping  towards  us.  Colonels  McKee,  Clay, 
Bissell  and  myself,  advanced  some  sixty  yards  from 
our  cover  to  meet  them.  With  the  greatest  difficulty 


AN    AMUSING    DEMAND.  263 

our  men  were  restrained  from  firing  upon  them  as  they 
came  up,  alleging  that  as  they  brought  no  white  flag, 
it  was  a  ruse.  They  asked  for  General  Taylor.  Col 
onel  Clay  accompanied  one  of  them,  the  Aid  of  Gene 
ral  Santa  Anna,  to  General  Taylor,  who  was  sitting 
with  his  right  leg  over  his  horse's  neck,  just  behind  us, 
as  unconcerned  at  the  danger  he  was  in,  and  as  com 
posed  as  man  possibly  could  be.  Whilst  the  aid  was 
delivering  his  message  to  the  general,  we  took  the  lib 
erty  of  quizzing  the  other  three  a  little.  I  asked  one 
of  them  who  appeared  highest  in  rank,  "  What  is  the 
object  of  your  mission  ?"  He  replied,  by  point.ing  to 
our  men,  who  were,  the  most  of  them,  lying  on  their 
faces,  at  full  length,  about  forty  paces  from  him,  "  Those 
are  troops  of  the  line,  are  they  ?"  To  which  we  re 
plied,  "  Six  hundred  of  them  are."  I  then  resumed  my 
questions,  when  he  answered  in  Spanish,  and  as  we  did 
not  appear  to  comprehend  him,  repeated  in  French, 
that  "  General  Santa  Anna  wishes  to  know  what  Gen 
eral  Taylor  wants."  He  said  it  with  such  an  air  of 
unconcern,  that  we  all  broke  out  into  a  loud  laugh. 

I  understand  that  when  the  aid  reached  the  General, 
he  repeated  the  same  thing  to  him,  when  the  old  "  war 
hero"  told  the  interpreter  to  tell  him,  "  he  wanted  the 
Mexican  army  to  surrender  ;  tell  him  that  1  will  treat 
Santa  Anna  and  his  army  like  gentlemen."  The  fact 
is,  that  at  this  time  the  right  wing  of  the  Mexican  forces 
had  been  entirely  cut  off,  and  near  four  thousand  lan 
cers  and  infantry  were  at  the  mercy  of  Captain  Bragg's 
battery  of  light  artillery,  which  had  been  advanced  so 
close  to  their  line,  that  with  canister  they  would  rake 
a  deep  ravine,  through  which  they  \vere  compelled  to 
pass  to  rejoin  the  main  body  of  the  Mexican  force, 
which  they  were  on  the  full  retreat  to  re-unite  with, 


264  EFFECT    OF    DUPLICITY. 

having  been  driven  back  by  the  cavalry,  Mississippians 
and  Sherman's  light  battery,  which  poured  a  most  de 
structive  fire  upon  them.  At  the  same  time  that  the 
messenger  came  from  Santa  Anna,  to  whom  I  have 
alluded,  a  white  flag  was  sent  in  from  the  right  wing 
under  retreat.  Mr.  Crittenden,  General  Taylor's  aid, 
I  think,  returned  with  it  to  the  enemy's  lines,  where 
they  closed  round  him,  and  under  protection  of  the  flag, 
with  Mr.  Crittenden  in  their  midst,  passed  Bragg's  bat 
tery  within  point-blank  canister  range.  Thus,  but  for 
their  duplicity,  the  entire  right  wing  of  their  army 
would  have  been  taken,  the  victory  won,  and  the  ter 
rible  loss  we  sustained  in  the  last  charge,  saved  the 
nation. 

The  craft  of  Santa  Anna  had  restored  his  courage, 
and  with  his  reinforcement  of  cavalry,  he  determined 
to  charge  our  line.  Under  cover  of  their  artillery,  horse 
and  foot  advanced  upon  our  batteries.  These,  from 
the  smallness  of  our  infantry  force,  were  but  feebly 
supported,  yet  by  the  most  brilliant  and  daring  efforts 
nobly  maintained  their  position.  Such  was  the  ra 
pidity  of  their  transitions,  that  officers  and  pieces 
seemed  empowered  with  ubiquity,  and  upon  cavalry 
and  infantry  alike,  wherever  they  appeared,  they 
poured  so  destructive  a  fire  as  to  silence  the  enemy's 
artillery,  compel  his  whole  line  to  fall  back,  and  soon 
to  assume  a  sort  of  sauve  qui  pent  movement,  indica 
ting  anything  but  victory.  The  two  wings  re-united 
(near  where  the  Second  Indiana  were  posted  in  the 
morning)  under  the  most  blazing  and  effective  fire  from 
our  light  batteries,  that  cannon  ever  poured  into  col 
umns  of  men.  They  fell  by  scores,  and  on  this  spot 
I  saw,  the  next  day,  as  many  as  five  men  killed  by  the 
same  round  shot — legs  were  knocked  in  one  direction, 


VICTORY  NEARLY  TURNED  TO  DEFEAT.      265 

arms  in  another — ho-  ses,-  lancers  and  infantry,  in  rich 
profusion  strewed  tHe  ground.  The  enemy  retired  un 
der  this  most  withering  fire,  and  if  we  had  been  con 
tent  with  a  victory  only,  we  had  won  one  never  to  be 
forgotten  whilst  our  history  lasts ;  but,  unfortunately, 
we  here  pursued  it  too  far.  The  gallant  and  lamented 
Hardin — the  soul  of  bravery — advanced  with  his  regi 
ment  to  charge  the  enemy's  cannon,  under  cover  of 
which  he  was  rapidly  retiring.  But  while  we  were 
negotiating  with  the  white  flags,  the  enemy's  reserve 
of  nearly  five  thousand  chosen  infantry,  who  were 
fresh,  and  had  not  participated  in  the  day,  were  ad 
vanced,  and  placed  in  the  immense  ravine  which  sepa 
rated  the  two  armies  in  the  morning.  They  must  have 
extended  down  the  ravine,  towards  the  San  Louis  road, 
for  six  hundred  yards.  The  ground  was  cut  to  pieces 
with  these  ravines  running  parallel  to  each  other,  and 
not  more  than  one  hundred  and  fifty  yards  apart.  In 
advancing  upon  the  enemy's  battery,  the  First  regi 
ment  soon  came  under  a  most  galling  fire  from  the 
right  of  the  enemy's  reserve,  and  was  immediately 
ordered  to  cover  itself  by  the  deep  ravine,  around  the 
head  of  which  it  was  filing,  when  the  fire  opened 
upon  it. 

As  we  had  fought  side  by  side  so  long,  our  regiment 
with  one  will  and  heart  advanced  to  their  relief,  crossed 
the  deep  ravine,  and  taking  position  on  the  right  of  the 
First  Illinois  regiment,  commenced  a  hot  fire  upon  the 
enemy's  right,  which  soon  would  have  brought  them  to 
a  right-about.  After  exchanging  some  dozen  rounds, 
a  perfect  forest  of  bayonets  made  their  appearance  over 
the  brow  of  the  hill  right  in  our  front,  and  gave  us  as 
much  to  do  as  we  could  to  return  their  fire. 

At  this  critical  point  of  the  battle,  when  it  became 


2G6  A    NOBLE    CHARGE. 

necessary  to  sustain  one  of  our  columns,  which  was 
staggering  under  a  charge  made  by  the  Mexicans  in 
overwhelming  numbers,  General  Taylor  dispatched 
Mr.  Crittenden  to  order  Colonel  McKee,  of  the  Second 
Kentucky  regiment,  to  bring  his  men  into  immediate 
action.  Mr.  Crittenden  found  the  regiment,  men  and 
officers,  eager  for  the  fray,  delivered  the  order  and  rode 
back  to  the  general,  by  whose  side  it  was  his  duty  to 
keep.  The  Kentuckians  moved  forward  in  gallant 
style,  led  by  McKee  and  Clay,  both  of  whom,  alas !  fell 
in  a  subsequent  part  of  the  day.  It  so  happened  that 
before  reaching  a  position  from  which  they  could  de 
liver  an  effective  fire,  the  regiment  had  to  cross  a  valley 
which  was  broken  up  by  ravines  and  masses  of  stone. 
While  crossing  this  valley,  the  heads  only  of  the  men 
could  be  seen  from  the  point  which  General  Taylor 
and  Mr.  Crittenden  occupied,  and  these  were  bobbing 
up  and  down  and  crosswise  in  such  confusion  as  to  im 
press  both  with  the  idea  that  the  regiment  had  fallen 
into  disorder.  The  Mexicans  were  annoying  them  at 
the  same  moment  by  a  fire,  which  helped  to  confirm 
the  opinion  of  the  general  that  the  Kentuckians  were 
thrown  into  dismay.  It  was  one  of  those  decisive 
crises  which  occur  in  every  contested  field,  when  the 
issue  of  the  day  depended,  for  the  time  being,  upon  the 
gallantry  of  a  particular  corps. 

General  Taylor,  who,  as  before  said,  could  only  see 
the  heads  of  the  troops,  and  misled  by  their  motions 
in  getting  across  gullies  and  going  around  rocks  and 
other  obstructions,  into  the  belief  that  they  were  about 
to  falter,  turned  to  Mr.  Crittenden,  (who  is  a  Kentuck- 
ian,)  and  with  a  countenance  indicating  deep  mortifi 
cation,  for  the  general  is  a  Kentuckian  too,  and  an  eye 
fierce  with  emotion,  exclaimed :  "  Mr.  Crittenden,  this 


AN    EXCITING    MOMENT.  267 

will  not  do — this  is  not  the  way  for  Kentuckians  to  be 
have  themselves  when  called  upon  to  make  good  a  bat 
tle — it  will  not  answer,  sir  ;"  and  with  this  he  clenched 
his  fist,  and  knit  his  brow,  and  set  his  teeth  hard  to 
gether.  Mr.  Crittenden,  who  was  mistaken  by  the 
same  indications  that  deceived  the  general,  could 
scarcely  make  a  reply,  from  very  chagrin  and  shame. 
In  a  few  moments,  however,  the  Kentuckians  had 
crossed  the  uneven  places,  and  were  seen  ascending 
the  slope  of  the  valley,  shoulder  to  shoulder,  and  with 
the  firm  and  regular  step  of  veterans  of  a  hundred 
fields. 

On  they  moved  until  they  reached  the  crest  of  the 
hill,  where  they  met  the  enemy  before  the  flush  of  a 
temporary  advantage  had  subsided.  Here  they  deliv 
ered  their  fire  by  companies  with  such  regularity  and 
deadly  aim  that  the  decimated  phalanx  of  Mexico  gave 
way  and  retreated  precipitately.  As  the  Kentuckians 
emerged  from  the  valley,  the  countenance  of  the  old 
general,  who  was  regarding  them  with  the  intensest  in 
terest,  gradually  relaxed  the  bitterness  of  its  expression. 
A  glow  of  pride  supplanted  the  deep  mortification  which 
fixed  his  muscles,  and  enthusiasm  qualified  the  fierce 
glances  of  his  eye.  Forward  they  moved  under  his 
riveted  gaze,  whose  feelings  became  more  and  more 
wrought  up  as  they  approached  the  scene  of  carnage. 
When  they  opened  their  fire  the  old  general  could  no 
longer  restrain  his  admiration,  but  broke  forth  wTith  a 
loud  huzza.  "  Hurrah  for  old  Kentuck,"  he  exclaimed, 
talking  as  it  were  to  himself  and  rising  in  his  saddle — 
"  That's  the  way  to  do  it ;  give  it  to  'em,"  and  the  tears 
of  exultation  rolled  down  his  cheeks  as  he  said  it.  Hav 
ing  got  rid  of  this  exultation  of  state  pride,  he  went 
about  looking  after  other  parts  of  the  field. 


268  A  SUDDEN  CHARGE. 

This  regiment,  too,  had  as  much  to  do  in  front  as  one 
regiment  could  attend  to,  whilst  about  one  thousand  in 
fantry  on  their  right  ran  across  the  level  ground  be 
tween  the  two  ravines,  to  cut  off  our  retreat  to  the  San 
Luis  road,  down  which,  under  cover  of  Washington's 
guns,  we  could  only  reach  the  redoubt  on  the  hill,  where 
the  First  Illinois  were  posted  in  the  early  part  of  the 
action. 

Again  our  spirits  rose.  The  Mexicans  appeared 
thoroughly  routed,  and  while  their  regiments  and  divis 
ions  were  flying  before  us,  nearly  all  our  light  troops 
were  ordered  forward,  and  followed  them 'with  a  most 
deadly  fire,  mingled  with  shouts  which  rose  above  the 
roar  of  artillery.  In  this  charge  the  First  Illinois  regi 
ment  and  McKee's  Kentuckians  were  foremost.  The 
pursuit  was  too  hot,  and  as  it  evinced  too  clearly  our 
deficiency  in  numbers,  the  Mexicans,  with  a  sudden 
ness  which  was  almost  magical,  rallied  and  returned 
upon  us.  They  came  in  myriads,  and  for  a  while  the 
carnage  was  dreadful  on  both  sides.  We  were  but  a 
handful  to  oppose  the  frightful  masses  which  were  hurled 
upon  us,  and  could  as  easily  have  resisted  an  avalanche 
of  thunderbolts.  We  were  driven  back,  and  the  day 
seemed  lost  beyond  redemption.  Victory,  which  a 
moment  before  appeared  within  our  grasp,  was  suddenly 
torn  from  our  standard.  There  was  but  one  hope,  but 
that  proved  an  anchor  sure  and  steadfast. 

While  our  men  were  driven  through  the  ravines,  at 
the  extremities  of  which  a  body  of  Mexican  lancers 
was  stationed  to  pounce  upon  them  like  tigers, — Brent 
and  Whiting,  of  Washington's  battery,  gave  them  such 
a  torrent  of  grape  as  to  put  them  to  flight,  and  thus 
saved  the  remnants  of  those  brave  regiments,  which  had 
long  born  the  hottest  portion  of  the  fight.  On  the  ottar 


DEATH  OF  CLAY,  HARDIN,  A\D  MCKEE.      269 

flank,  while  the  Mexicans  came  rushing  on  like  legions 
of  fiends,  the  artillery  was  left  unsupported,  and  capture 
by  the  enemy  seemed  inevitable. 

I  soon  discovered  that  the  odds  against  us  was  so 
great,  that  we  must  be  overpowered,  and  having  wit 
nessed,  during  the  day,  the  barbarities  committed  upon 
our  wounded  officers,  resigned  myself  to  die.  The  right 
wing  of  the  enemy's  reserve  had  crossed  over,  and  were 
turning  our  left  flank — our  men  were  too  tired  and 
broken  down  to  bring  them  to  the  bayonet,  and  out 
only  salvation  was  in  retreat.  I  turned  my  eyes  down 
the  ravine,  and  the  distance  sickened  me ;  and  when  I 
thought,  but  for  one  instant,  upon  how  many  gallant 
men  would  die  there — murdered,  butchered,  even  after 
surrender — my  brain  reeled  :  the  order  was  given  to 
retreat — no  possible  order  could  be  observed,  the  banks 
were  precipitate,  rocky,  and  covered  with  loose  rolling 
pebbles — five  colonels  were,  with  their  regiments,  at  the 
head  of  the  ravine  where  the  order  was  given — three 
of  them,  John  J.  Hardin,  Colonel  KcKee,  and  Lieuten 
ant-Colonel  Henry  Clay,  fell  wounded,  and  were  inhu 
manly  lanced  to  death,  and  stripped  of  their  clothing. 
I  think  the  lance  was  run  through  poor  Clay  as  often 
as  ten  times ;  his  men  carried  him  some  two  hundred 
yards,  but  to  save  their  own  lives,  were  compelled  to 
abandon  him  ;  the  wound  which  disabled  him,  was 
slight  one  through  the  legs.  The  same  was  poor  Har- 
din's  case.  Colonel  Bissell  and  myself  escaped  un 
touched,  but  a  horrible  massacre  of  our  men  took  place 
here.  Besides  a  large  number  of  privates,  there  fell  in 
this  fatal  ravine,  Captain  Zabriskie,  First  Illinois  vol 
unteers  ;  Captain  William  T.  Willis,  Kentucky  volun 
teers  ;  Lieutenants  T.  Kelly,  Rodney  Ferguson,  Ed 
ward  F.  Fletcher,  Lauriston  Robbins,  Allen  B.  Roun- 


19 


270  CAPTAIN  BRAGG'S  BATTERY. 

tree,  and  James  C.  Steele,  of  Second  Illinois  volun 
teers  ;  Lieutenant  Hoten,  First  Illinois,  and  Lieutenant 
Ball,  Second  Kentucky  volunteers. 

But  Bragg  and  Thomas  rose  with  the  crisis,  and 
eclipsed  even  the  fame  they  won  at  Monterey,  while 
Sherman,  O'Brien  and  Bryan,  proved  themselves  wor 
thy  of  the  alliance.  Every  horse  with  O'Brien's  bat 
tery  was  killed,  and  the  enemy  had  advanced  to  within 
range  of  grape,  sweeping  all  before  him.  But  here  his 
progress  was  arrested,  and  before  the  showers  of  iron 
hail  which  assailed  him,  squadrons  and  battalions  fell 
like  leaves  in  the  blast  of  autumn.  The  Mexicans  were 
once  more  driven  back  with  great  loss,  though  taking 
with  them  the  three  pieces  of  artillery  which  were  with 
out  horses. 

The  lancers  who  had  dashed  down  the  road  to  cut 
off  our  retreat,  were  driven  back  by  Washington's  ar 
tillery,  wrhich  opened  a  well  directed  fire  upon  them ; 
but  for  which,  not  one  of  us  would  have  gotten  out — 
the  banks  on  each  side  of  the  ravine  were  very  steep, 
at  least  fifty  feet,  and  it  was  impossible  to  rally  a  man 
under  the  desolating  fire  which  poured  upon  us  from 
several  thousand  fresh  troops.  When  we  reached  the 
redoubt  it  was  nearly  night ;  we  had  been  in  the  en 
gagement  since  daylight,  and  nature,  unable  to  bear 
under  greater  burdens,  yielded,  officers  and  men  sink 
ing  down  upon  the  rocks  and  earth,  completely  ex 
hausted.  Thus,  thrice  during  the  day,  when  all  seemed 
lost  but  honor,  did  the  artillery,  by  the  ability  with 
which  it  was  manoeuvred,  roll  back  the  tide  of  success 
from  the  enemy,  and  give  such  overwhelming  destruc- 
tiveness  to  its  effect,  that  the  army  was  saved  and  the 
glory  of  our  arms  maintained. 

The  battle  had  now  raged  with  variable  success  for 


NARROW    ESCAPE    OF    TAYLOR.  278 

nearly  ten  hours,  and  by  a  sort  of  mutual  consent, 
after  the  last  carnage  wrought  among  the  Mexicans 
by  the  artillery,  both  parties  seemed  willing  to  pause 
apon  the  result.  Night  fell,  and  the  American  gen 
eral,  with  his  troops,  slept  upon  the  battle-ground,  pre 
pared,  if  necessary,  to  resume  operations  on  the  mor 
row.  But  ere  the  sun  rose  again  upon  the  scene,  the 
Mexicans  had  disappeared,  leaving  behind  them  only 
their  dead  and  dying,  whose  bones  are  to  whiten  their 
native  hills,  and  whose  moans  of  anguish  were  to  ex 
cite  in  their  enemies  that  compassion,  which  can  have 
no  existence  in  the  bosoms  of  their  friends. 

Throughout  the  action,  General  Taylor  was  where 
the  shot  fell  hottest  and  thickest,  two  of  which  passed 
through  his  clothes.  He  constantly  evinced  the  great 
est  quickness  of  conception,  fertility  of  resource,  and 
a  cool,  unerring  judgment,  not  to  be  baffled.  General 
Wool  was  wherever  his  presence  was  required,  stimu 
lating  the  troops  to  activity  and  exertion.  The  opera 
tions  of  General  Lane  were  confined  to  his  own  bri 
gade,  and  his  efforts  were  worthy  of  better  material 
for  their  application.  Major  Bliss  bore  himself  with 
his  usual  gallantry,  having  his  horse,  as  at  Palo  Alto, 
shot  in  the  head.  Mr.  Crittenden,  a  son  of  the  senator 
from  Kentucky,  was  conspicuous  in  the  field,  as  volun 
teer  aid  to  General  Taylor,  and  the  medical  director' 
assistant  surgeon,-  Hitchcock,  could  be  sometimes  seen 
where  the  balls  fell  fastest,  binding  up  a  wound  or 
dressing  a  broken  leg,  with  true  professional  zeal ;  and, 
anon,  galloping  with  the  ardor  of  an  amateur  knight, 
conveying  orders  to  different  commanders. 

I  could  recount  a  thousand  acts  of  individual  cour 
age  worthy  of  record,  but  when  all  behaved  so  well,  it 
would  be  invidious  almost  to  record  them.  Captain 


274  A    DEARLY    PURCHASED    VICTORY. 

Lincoln  was  waving  us  on  with  his  sword,  when  he 
fell  dead  into  the  arms  of  Captain  Raith,  of  Belleville. 
Captain  Steene,  of  the  Dragoons,  was  on  every  part 
of  the  field,  animating  the  volunteers  by  his  presence 
and  words  ;  where  the  bullets  were  thickest  his  tower 
ing  black  was  seen,  until  the  gallant  rider  fell,  severely 
wounded.  Colonel  Churchill  has  won  an  imperishable 
reputation  for  coolness  and  bravery.  He  rode  along 
the  lines  but  a  minute  before  the  enemy  opened  upon 
us,  remarking,  "  My  brave  Illinoisians,  you  did  not 
make  this  long  march  to  be  defeated  now,  did  you  ?" 
and  retired,  his  horse  receiving  four  wounds. 

General  Wool  behaved  most  gallantly,  and  has 
earned  all  the  country  can  do  for  him,  besides  the 
respect,  esteem  and  admiration  of  his  brigade,  who, 
before  the  battle,  had  a  long  account  of  what  they  con 
sidered  petty  annoyances  treasured  against  him. 

What  can  be  said  of  "  Old  Rough  and  Ready  ?" 
He  was  everywhere  at  the  same  time,  animating, 
ordering,  and  persuading  his  men  to  remember  the  day 
Mid  their  country,  and  strike  home  for  both.  The 
2>reast  of  his  coat  was  pierced  by  a  canister  shot. 
*  These  balls  are  growing  excited,"  was  his  cool  remark. 

I  give  you  a  list  of  killed  and  wounded  of  our  regi- 
Tient ;  it  is  the  highest,  tnough  bloodiest  eulogium  that 
ean  be  passed  upon  it.  I  have  extended  this  letter  to 
an  alarming  length,  I  am  aware,  but  your  readers  will 
excuse  it — the  theme  is  a  mighty  one — my  heart  is 
full,  and  my  pen  could  not  be  controlled.  Major 
Mansfield,  for  self-possession  and  cool  courage,  was 
unequalled  by  any  officer  on  the  field.  General  Tay 
lor's  staff,  among  whom  is  Lieutenant  Pope,  of  our 
state,  bore  orders  through  every  part  of  the  field. 

In  this,  as  in  every  case  of  arbitrament  by  the  sword, 


GENERAL  WOOL 


SOME    OF    THE    MARTYRS.  275 

the  laurel  is  closely  entwined  with  the  cypress,  and  the 
lustre  of  a  brilliant  victory  is  darkened  by  the  blood 
with  which  it  has  been  purchased.  I  am  unable  to 
state  our  loss,  but  it  has  been  very  severe,  and  proves 
the  battle  of  Buena  Vista  to  have  been,  by  far,  the 
most  terrible  conflict  in  which  our  troops  have  been 
engaged.  Captain  Lincoln,  assistant  adjutant-general 
to  General  Wool,  fell  early  in  the  action,  while  proudly 
distinguished  by  his  efforts  to  bring  the  flying  regiment 
back  to  their  position,  and  with  his  last  breath  bore 
testimony  against  Indiana  cowardice.  Colonel  Yell 
was  pierced  by  a  lance,  while  gallantly  leading  his  reg 
iment  against  the  Mexican  cavalry.  The  noble 
Hardin  met  his  death  gloriously,  while  conducting  the 
last  terrible  charge.  Colonel  McKee,  after  having 
gallantly  sustained  the  honor  of  Kentucky,  throughout 
the  action,  fell  in  the  foremost  rank,  and  Lieutenant- 
Colonel  Clay  was  cut  down  at  almost  the  same  moment 
with  Hardin  and  McKee,  while  giving  his  men  the 
most  brilliant  example  of  noble  daring  and  lofty  chiv 
alry.  Others  have  fallen,  but  their  names  are  not 
known  to  me  ;  nor  is  it  for  me  to  pronounce  the  eulogy 
of  those  whose  names  1  have  recorded.  Other  and 
abler  pens  will  do  justice  to  the  character  and  memory 
of  the  illustrious  dead,  whose  devotion  to  the  republic 
they  have  written  with  their  blood  and  sealed  with 
their  lives.  Lincoln  was  a  gallant  officer  and  accom 
plished  gentleman,  of  pure  heart  and  generous  impulses, 
and  worthy  of  his  revolutionary  lineage.  Yell  was  a 
warm  friend  and  gallant  man,  quick  to  see  the  right, 
and  ready  to  pursue  it.  Hardin  was  one  of  Nature's 
noblest  spirits,  a  soldier  tried  and  true,  a  rare  union  of 
the  best  qualities  of  the  head  and  heart.  McKee  wras 
wise  in  council  and  brave  in  the  field,  with  a  neart 


276  GENERAL    TAYLOIl's    OFFICAL    REPORT. 

moved  by  the  tenderest  sympathies  and  most  noble  im 
pulses.  And  what  shall  I  say  of  Clay — the  young,  the 
brave,  the  chivalrous — foremost  in  the  fight — the  soul 
of  every  lofty  sentiment  ?  Devoted  to  his  friends  and 
generous  to  his  enemies,  he  fell  in  the  flower  of  his  age 
and  usefulness,  and  has  left  no  worthier  name  behind 
him.  If  he  was  not  the  "  noblest  Roman  of  them  all/ 
few  will  deny  that  in  him — 

"  Were  the  elements 

So  mixed,  that  Nature  might  stand  up  and  say 
To  all  the  world — THIS.  WAS  A  MAN." 

As  General  Taylor's  own  account  of  his  brilliant 
achievements  always  presents  the  clearest  conception 
of  them  to  the  mind,  and  affords  the  best  index  to  his 
character,  his  detailed  official  report  of  this  most  splen 
did  of  all  his  military  deeds,  is  given  at  length  below. 
There  are  many  incidents  in  such  a  battle  as  this,  that 
must  escape  the  attention  of  every  one  but  the  com 
manding  general  himself;  and  though  his  account  is, 
of  necessity,  less  exciting,  as  it  is  confined  more  to 
mere  detail,  than  the  graphic  description  already 
given,  yet  it  presents  facts  in  an  authentic  shape,  and 
is  therefore  not  only  most  sought  after,  but  composes  a 
necessary  part  of  the  history  of  the  war.  It  is  a 
monument,  too,  to  the  patriotism  of  the  brave  men 
who  sacrificed  their  lives  for  their  country  on  the 
bloody  field  of  Buena  Vista,  no  less  than  to  his  own 
genius,  gallantry  and  patriotism,  and  as  such  must  be 
preserved : 

"  I  have  the  honor  to  submit  a  detailed  report  of  the 
operations  of  the  forces  under  my  command,  which 
resulted  in  the  engagement  of  Buena  Vista,  the  repulse 


TAYLOR'S  REPORT  CONTINUED.  277 

of  the  Mexican  army,  and  the  re-occupation  of  this 
position. 

"  The  information  which  reached  me  of  the  advance 
and  concentration  of  a  heavy  Mexican  force  in  my 
front,  had  assumed  such  a  probable  form  as  to  induce 
a  special  examination  far  beyond  the  reach  of  our 
pickets  to  ascertain  its  correctness.  A  small  party  of 
Texan  spies,  under  Major  McCullough,  dispatched  to 
the  hacienda  of  Encarnacion,  thirty  miles  from  this, 
on  the  route  to  San  Luis  Potosi,  had  reported  a  cavalry 
force  of  unknown  strength  at  that  place.  On  the 
20th  of  February,  a  strong  reconnoissance,  under 
Lieutenant-Colonel  May,  was  dispatched  to  the  haci 
enda  of  Hecliondo,  while  Major  McCullough  made 
another  examination  of  Encarnacion.  The  result  of 
these  expeditions  left  no  doubt  that  the  enemy  was  in 
large  force  at  Encarnacion,  under  the  orders  of  General 
Santa  Anna,  and  that  he  meditated  a  forward  move 
ment  and  attack  upon  our  position. 

"  As  the  camp  at  Agua  Nueva  could  be  turned  on 
either  flank,  and  as  the  enemy's  force  was  greatly 
superior  to  our  own,  particularly  in  the  arm  of  cavalry, 
I  determined,  after  much  consideration,  to  take  up  a 
position  about  eleven  miles  in  rear,  and  there  await 
the  attack.  The  army  broke  up  its  camp  and  marched 
at  noon  on  the  21st,  encamping  at  the  new  position  a 
little  in  front  of  the  hacienda  of  Buena  Vista.  With 
a  small  force  I  proceeded  to  Saltillo,  to  make  some 
necessary  arrangements  for  the  defence  of  the  town, 
leaving  Brigadier-General  Wool  in  the  immediate  com 
mand  of  the  troops. 

"  Before  those  arrangements  were  completed,  on  the 
morning  of  the  22d,  I  was  advised  that  the  enemy  was 
in  sight,  advancing.  Upon  reaching  the  ground,  it 


278  TAYLOR'S  REPORT  CONTINUED. 

was  found  that  his  cavalry  advance  was  in  our  front, 
having  marched  from  Encarnacion,  as  we  have  since 
learned,  at  eleven  o'clock  the  day  previous,  and  driving 
in  a  mounted  force  left  at  Agua  Nueva  to  cover  the 
removal  of  public  stores.  Our  troops  were  in  position, 
occupying  a  line  of  remarkable  strength.  The  road  at 
this  point  becomes  a  narrow  defile,  the  valley  on  its 
right  being  rendered  quite  impracticable  for  artillery 
by  a  succession  of  deep  and  impassable  gullies,  while 
on  the  left  a  succession  of  rugged  ridges  and  precipitous 
ravines  extends  far  back  toward  the  mountain  which 
bounds  the  valley.  The  features  of  the  ground  were 
such  as  nearly  to  paralyze  the  artillery  and  cavalry  of 
the  enemy,  while  his  infantry  could  not  derive  all  the 
advantage  of  its  numerical  superiority.  In  this  position 
we  prepared  to  receive  him.  Captain  Washington's 
battery  (Fourth  artillery)  was  posted  to  command  the 
road,  while  the  First  and  Second  Illinois  regiments, 
under  Colonels  Hardin  and  Bissell,  each  eight  compa 
nies,  (to  the  latter  of  which  was  attached  Captain  Con 
ner's  company  of  Texas  volunteers,)  and  the  Second 
Kentucky,  under  Colonel  McKee,  occupied  the  crests 
of  the  ridges  on  the  left  and  in  rear.  The  Arkan 
sas  and  Kentucky  regiments  of  cavalry,  commanded 
by  Colonels  Yell  and  H.  Marshall,  occupied  the  ex 
treme  left  near  the  base  of  the  mountain,  while  the 
Indiana  brigade,  under  Brigadier-General  Lane,  (com 
posed  of  the  Second  and  Third  regiments,  under  Col 
onels  Bowles  and  Lane,)  the  Mississippi  riflemen, 
under  Colonel  Davis,  the  squadrons  of  the  First  and 
Second  dragoons,  under  Captain  Steene  and  Lieu 
tenant-Colonel  May,  and  the  light  batteries  of  Captains 
Sherman  and  Bragg,  Third  artillery,  were  held  in 
reserve. 


TAYLOR'S  REPORT  CONTINUED  279 

"At  eleven  o'clock  I  received  from  General  Santa 
Anna  a  summons  to  surrender  at  discretion,  which, 
with  a  copy  of  my  reply,  I  have  already  transmitted. 
The  enemy  still  forebore  his  attack,  evidently  waiting 
for  the  arrival  of  his  rear  columns,  which  could  be 
distinctly  seen  by  our  look-outs  as  they  approached  the 
field.  A  demonstration  made  on  his  left  caused  me  to 
detach  the  Second  Kentucky  regiment  and  a  section 
of  artillery  to  our  right,  in  which  position  they  bivou 
acked  for  the  night.  In  the  meantime  the  Mexican 
light  troops  had  engaged  ours  on  the  extreme  left, 
(composed  of  parts  of  the  Kentucky  and  Arkansas 
cavalry  dismounted,  and  a  rifle  battalion  from  the 
Indiana  brigade,  under  Major  Gorman,  the  whole  com 
manded  by  Colonel  Marshall,)  and  kept  up  a  sharp  fire, 
climbing  the  mountain  side,  and  apparently  endeavor 
ing  to  gain  our  flank.  Three  pieces  of  Captain  Wash 
ington's  battery  had  been  detached  to  the  left,  and  were 
supported  by  the  Second  Indiana  regiment.  An  occa 
sional  shell  was  thrown  by  the  enemy  into  this  part  of 
our  line,  but  without  effect.  The  skirmishing  of  the 
light  troops  was  kept  up  with  trifling  loss  on  our  part 
until  dark,  when  I  became  convinced  that  no  serious 
attack  would  be  made  before  the  morning,  and  returned, 
with  the  Mississippi  regiment  and  squadron  of  Second 
dragoons,  to  Saltillo.  The  troops  bivouacked  without 
fires,  and  laid  upon  their  arms.  A  body  of  cavalry, 
some  fifteen  hundred  strong,  had  been  visible  all  day  in 
rear  of  the  town,  having  entered  the  valley  through 
a  narrow  pass,  east  of  the  city.  This  cavalry,  com 
manded  by  General  Minon,  had  evidently  been  thrown 
in  our  rear  to  break  up  and  harass  our  retreat,  and 
perhaps  make  some  attempt  against  the  town,  if  practi 
cable.  The  city  was  occupied  by  four  excellent  com- 


280  TAYLOR'S  REPORT  CONTINUED. 

panics  of  Illinois  volunteers,  under  Major  Warren,  of 
the  First  regiment.  A  field-work,  which  commanded 
most  of  the  approaches,  was  garrisoned  by  Captain 
Webster's  company,  First  artillery,  and  armed  with 
two  twenty-four  pound  howitzers,  while  the  tram  and 
headquarter  camp  was  guarded  by  two  companies  of 
Mississippi  riflemen,  under  Captain  Rogers,  and  a  field- 
piece,  commanded  by  Captain  Shover,  Third  artillery. 
Having  made  these  dispositions  for  the  protection  of 
the  rear,  I  proceeded  on  the  morning  of  the  23rd  to 
Buena  Vista,  ordering  forward  all  the  other  available 
troops.  The  action  had  commenced  before  my  arrival 
on  the  field. 

"  During  the  evening  and  night  of  the  22nd,  the  en 
emy  had  thrown  a  body  of  light  troops  on  the  moun 
tain  side,  with  the  purpose  of  outflanking  our  left ;  and 
it  was  here  that  the  action  of  the  23rd  commenced  at 
an  early  hour.  Our  riflemen,  under  Colonel  Marshall, 
who  had  been  reinforced  by  three  companies  under 
Major  Trail,  Second  Illinois  volunteers,  maintained 
their  ground  handsomely  against  a  greatly  superior 
force,  holding  themselves  under  cover,  and  using  their 
weapons  with  deadly  effect.  About  eight  o'clock,  a 
strong  demonstration  was  made  against  the  centre  of 
our  position,  a  heavy  column  moving  along  the  road. 
This  force  was  soon  dispersed  by  a  few  rapid  and  well- 
directed  shots  from  Captain  Washington's  battery.  In 
the  meantime  the  enemy  was  concentrating  a  large 
force  of  infantry  and  cavalry,  under  cover  of  the 
ridges,  with  the  obvious  intention  of  forcing  our  left, 
which  was  posted  on  an  extensive  plateau.  The 
Second  Indiana  and  Second  Illinois  regiments  formed 
this  part  of  our  line,  the  former  covering  three  pieces 
of  light  artillery  under  the  orders  of  Captain  O'Brien 


TAYLOR'S  REPORT  CONTINUED.  281 

— Brigadier-General  Lane  being  in  the  immediate  com 
mand.  In  order  to  bring  his  men  within  effective 
range,  General  Lane  ordered  the  artillery  and  Second 
Indiana  regiment  forward.  The  artillery  advanced 
within  musket  range  of  a  heavy  body  of  Mexican  in 
fantry,  and  was  served  against  it  with  great  effect,  but 
without  being  able  to  check  its  advance.  The  infantry 
ordered  to  its  support  had  fallen  back  in  disorder,  being 
exposed,  as  well  as  the  battery,  not  only  to  a  severe 
fire  of  small-arms  from  the  front,  but  also  to  a  murder 
ous  cross-fire  of  grape  and  canister,  from  a  Mexican 
battery  on  the  left.  Captain  O'Brien  found  it  impossi 
ble  to  retain  his  position  without  support,  but  was 
only  able  to  withdraw  two  of  his  pieces,  all  the  horses 
and  cannoneers  of  the  third  piece  being  killed  or  dis 
abled.  The  Second  Indiana  regiment,  which  had  fallen 
back  as  stated,  could  not  be  rallied,  and  took  no  farthei 
part  in  the  action,  except  a  handful  of  men,  who  undei 
its  gallant  colonel,  Bowles,  joined  the  Mississippi  regi 
ment,  and  did  good  service,  and  those  fugitives  wrho,  at 
a  later  period  in  the  day,  assisted  in  defending  the  train 
and  depot  at  Buena  Vista.  This  portion  of  our  line 
having  given  way,  and  the  enemy  appearing  in  over 
whelming  force  against  our  left  flank,  the  light  troops 
which  had  rendered  such  good  service  on  the  mountain 
were  compelled  to  withdraw,  which  they  did,  for  the 
most  part,  in  good  order.  Many,  however,  were  not 
rallied  until  they  reached  the  depot  at  Buena  Vista,  to 
the  defence  of  which  they  afterwards  contributed. 

"Colonel  BissellV regiment  (Second  Illinois,)  which 
had  been  joined  by  a  section  of  Captain  Sherman's 
battery,  had  become  completely  outflanked,  and  was 
compelled  to  fall  back,  being  entirely  unsupported. 
The  enemv  was  now  pouring  masses  of  infantry  and 


282  TAYLOR'S  REPORT  CONTINUED. 

cavalry  along  the  base  of  the  mountain  on  our  left,  and 
was  gaining  our  rear  in  great  force.  At  this  moment 
I  arrived  upon  the  field.  The  Mississippi  regiment  had 
been  directed  to  the  left  before  reaching  the  position, 
and  immediately  came  into  action  against  the  Mexican 
infantry  which  had  turned  our  flank.  The  Second 
Kentucky  regiment,  and  a  section  of  artillery  under 
Captain  Bragg,  had  previously  been  ordered  from  the 
right  to  reinforce  our  left,  and  arrived  at  a  most  oppor 
tune  moment.  That  regiment,  and  a  portion  of  the 
First  Illinois,  under  Colonel  Hardin,  gallantly  drove  the 
enemy,  and  recovered  a  portion  of  the  ground  we  had 
lost.  The  batteries  of  Captains  Sherman  and  .Bragg 
were  in  position  on  the  plateau,  and  did  much  execu 
tion,  not  only  in  front,  but  particularly  upon  the 
masses  which  had  gained  our  rear.  Discovering  that 
the  enemy  was  heavily  pressing  upon  the  Mississippi 
regiment,  the  Third  Indiana  regiment,  under  Colonel 
Lane,  was  dispatched  to  strengthen  that  part  of  our 
line,  which  formed  a  crotchet  perpendicular  to  the  first 
line  of  battle.  At  the  same  time  Lieutenant  Kilburn, 
with  a  piece  of  Captain  Bragg's  battery,  was  directed 
to  support  the  infantry  there  engaged.  The  action 
was  for  a  long  time  warmly  sustained  at  that  point — 
the  enemy  making  several  efforts  both  with  infantry 
and  cavalry  against  our  line,  and  being  always  repulsed 
with  heavy  loss.  I  had  placed  all  the  regular  cavalry 
and  Captain  Pike's  squadron  of  Arkansas  horse  under 
the  orders  of  Brevet  Lieutenant-Colonel  May,  with 
directions  to  hold  in  check  the  enemy's  column,  still 
advancing  to  the  rear  along  the  base  of  the  mountain, 
which  was  done  in  conjunction  with  the  Kentucky 
and  Arkansas  cavalry,  under  Colonels  Marshall  and 
Yell. 


TAYLOR'S  REPORT  CONTINUED.  283 

"  In  the  meantime  our  left,  which  was  still  strongly 
threatened  by  a  superior  force,  was  further  strength 
ened  by  the  detachment  of  Captain  Bragg's  and  a  por 
tion  of  Captain  Sherman's  batteries  to  that  quarter. 
The  concentration  of  artillery  fire  upon  the  masses  of 
the  enemy  along  the  base  of  the  mountain,  and  the  de 
termined  resistance  offered  by  the  two  regiments  op 
posed  to  them,  had  created  confusion  in  their  ranks, 
and  some  of  the  corps  attempted  to  effect  a  retreat 
upon  their  main  line  of  battle.  The  squadron  of  the 
First  dragoons,  under  Lieutenant  Rucker,  was  now  or 
dered  up  the  deep  ravine  which  these  retreating  corps 
were  endeavoring  to  cross,  in  order  to  charge  and  dis 
perse  them.  The  squadron  proceeded  to  the  point  in 
dicated,  but  could  not  accomplish  the  object,  being  ex 
posed  to  a  heavy  fire  from  a  battery  established  to 
cover  the  retreat  of  those  corps.  While  the  squadron 
was  detached  on  this  service,  a  large  body  of  the 
enemy  was  observed  to  concentrate  on  our  extreme 
left,  apparently  with  the  view  of  making  a  descent 
upon  the  hacienda  of  Buena  Vista,  where  our  train 
and  baggage  were  deposited.  Lieutenant-Colonel  May 
was  ordered  to  the  support  of  that  point,  with  two 
pieces  of  Captain  Sherman's  battery  under  Lieutenant 
Reynolds.  In  the  meantime,  the  scattered  forces  near 
the  hacienda,  composed  in  part  of  Majors  Trail  and 
Gormon's  commands,  had  been  to  some  extent  organ 
ized  under  the  advice  of  Major  Munroe,  chief  of  artil 
lery,  with  the  assistance  of  Major  Morrison,  volunteer 
staff,  and  were  posted  to  defend  the  position.  Before 
our  cavalry  had  reached  the  hacienda,  that  of  the 
enemy  had  made  its  attack  ;  having  been  handsomely 
met  by  the  Kentucky  and  Arkansas  cavalry  under 
Colonels  Marshall  and  Yell.  The  Mexican  column 


20 


284  TAYLOR'S  REPORT  CONTINUED. 

immediately  divided,  one  portion  sweeping  by  the  de 
pot,  where  it  received  a  destructive  fire  from  the  force 
which  had  collected  there,  and  then  gaining  the  moun 
tain  opposite,  under  a  fire  from  Lieutenant  Reynolds' 
section,  the  remaining  portion  regaining  the  base  of 
the  mountain  on  our  left.  In  the  charge  at  Buena 
Vista,  Colonel  Yell  fell  gallantly  at  the  head  of  his 
regiment ;  we  also  lost  Adjutant  Vaughan,  of  the  Ken 
tucky  cavalry — a  young  officer  of  much  promise.  Lieu 
tenant-Colonel  May,  who  had  been  rejoined  by  the 
squadron  of  the  First  dragoons  and  by  portions  of  the 
Arkansas  and  Indiana  troops,  under  Lieutenant-Colonel 
Roane  and  Major  Gorman,  now  approached  the  base 
of  the  mountain,  holding  in  check  the  right  flank  of 
the  enemy,  upon  whose  masses,  crowded  in  the  narrow 
gorges  and  ravines,  our  artillery  was  doing  fearful  ex 
ecution. 

"  The  position  of  that  portion  of  the  Mexican  army 
which  had  gained  our  rear  was  now  very  critical,  and 
*t  seemed  doubtful  whether  it  could  regain  the  main 
body.  At  this  moment  1  received  from  General  Santa 
Anna  a  message  by  a  staff  officer,  desiring  to  know 
what  I  wanted  ?  I  immediately  dispatched  Brigadier 
General  Wool  to  the  Mexican  general- in-chief,  and 
sent  orders  to  cease  firing.  Upon  reaching  the  Mexi 
can  lines,  General  Wool  could  not  cause  the  enemy  to 
cease  their  fire,  and  accordingly  returned  without  hav 
ing  an  interview.  The  extreme  right  of  the  enemy 
continued  its  retreat  along  the  base  of  the  mountain, 
and  finally,  in  spite  of  all  our  efforts,  effected  a  junction 
with  the  remainder  of  the  army. 

"  During  the  day,  the  cavalry  of  General  Minon  had 
ascended  the  elevated  plain  above  Saltillo,  and  occu 
pied  the  road  from  the  city  to  the  field  of  battle,  where 


TAYLOR'S  REPORT  CONTINUED.  285 

they  intercepted  several  of  our  men.  Approaching  the 
town,  they  were  fired  upon  by  Captain  Webster,  from 
the  redoubt  occupied  by  his  company,  and  then  moved 
off  towards  the  eastern  side  of  the  valley,  and  obliquely 
towards  Buena  Vista.  At  this  time,  Captain  Shover 
moved  rapidly  forward  with  his  piece,  supported  by  a 
miscellaneous  command  of  mounted  volunteers,  and 
fired  several  shots  at  the  cavalry  with  great  effect. 
They  were  driven  into  the  ravines  which  lead  to  the 
lower  valley,  closely  pursued  by  Captain  Shover,  who 
was  farther  supported  by  a  piece  of  Captain  Webster's 
battery,  under  Lieutenant  Donaldson,  which  had  ad 
vanced  from  the  redoubt,  supported  by  Captain  Wheel 
er's  company  of  Illinois  volunteers.  The  enemy  made 
one  or  two  efforts  to  charge  the  artillery,  but  was  finally 
driven  back  in  a  confused  mass,  and  did  not  again  ap 
pear  upon  the  plain. 

"  In  the  meantime  the  firing  had  partially  ceased 
upon  the  principal  field.  The  enemy  seemed  to  con 
fine  his  efforts  to  the  protection  of  his  artillery,  and  I 
had  left  the  plateau  for  a  moment,  when  I  was  recalled 
thither  by  a  very  heavy  musketry  fire.  On  regaining 
that  position,  I  discovered  that  our  infantry  (Illinois 
and  Second  Kentucky)  had  engaged  a  greatly  superior 
force  of  the  enemy — evidently  his  reserve — and  that 
they  had  been  overwhelmed  by  numbers.  The  mo 
ment  w^as  most  critical.  Captain  O'Brien,  with  two 
pieces,  had  sustained  this  heavy  charge  to  the  last,  and 
was  finally  obliged  to  leave  his  guns  on  the  field — his 
infantry  support  being  entirely  routed.  Captain  Bragg, 
who  had  just  arrived  from  the  left,  was  ordered  at 
once  into  battery.  Without  any  infantry  to  support 
him,  and  at  the  imminent  risk  of  losing  his  guns,  this 
officer  came  rapidly  into  action,  the  Mexican  line  being 


286  TAYLOR'S  REPORT  CONTINUED. 

but  a  few  yards  from  the  muzzles  of  his  pieces.  The 
first  discharge  of  canister  caused  the  enemy  to  hesi 
tate  ;  the  second  and  third  drove  him  back  in  disorder 
and  saved  the  day.  The  Second  Kentucky  regiment, 
which  had  advanced  beyond  supporting  distance  in 
this  affair  was  driven  back  and  closely  pressed  by  the 
enemy's  cavalry.  Taking  a  ravine  which  led  in  the 
direction  of  Captain  Washington's  battery,  their  pur 
suers  became  exposed  to  his  fire,  which  soon  checked 
and  drove  them  back  with  loss.  In  the  meantime  the 
rest  of  our  artillery  had  taken  position  on  the  plateau, 
covered  by  the  Mississippi  and  Third  Indiana  regi 
ments,  the  former  of  which  had  reached  the  ground  in 
time  to  pour  a  fire  into  the  right  flank  of  the  enemy, 
and  thus  contribute  to  his  repulse.  In  this  last  con 
flict  we  had  the  misfortune  to  sustain  a  very  heavy 
loss.  Colonel  Hardin,  First  Illinois,  and  Colonel  Mc- 
Kee  and  Lieutenant-Colonel  Clay,  Second  Kentucky 
regiment,  fell  at  this  time,  while  gallantly  leading  their 
commands. 

"  No  farther  attempt  was  made  by  the  enemy  to  force 
our  position,  and  the  approach  of  night  gave  an  oppor 
tunity  to  pay  proper  attention  to  the  wounded,  and  also 
to  refresh  the  soldiers,  who  had  been  exhausted  by  in 
cessant  watchfulness  and  combat.  Though  the  night 
wras  severely  cold,  the  troops  were  compelled  for  the 
most  to  bivouac  without  fires,  expecting  that  morning 
would  renew  the  conflict.  During  the  night  the 
wounded  were  removed  to  Saltillo,  and  every  prepara 
tion  made  to  receive  the  enemy,  should  he  again  attack 
our  position.  Seven  fresh  companies  were  drawn  from 
the  town,  and  Brigadier-General  Marshall,  with  a  rein 
forcement  of  Kentucky  cavalry  and  four  heavy  guns, 
under  Captain  Prentiss,  First  artillery,  was  near  at 


TAYLOR'S  REPORT  CONTINUED.  287 

hand,  when  it  was  discovered  that  the  enemy  had 
abandoned  his  position  during  the  night.  Our  scouts 
soon  ascertained  that  he  had  fallen  back  upon  Agua 
Nueva.  The  great  disparity  of  numbers,  and  the  ex 
haustion  of  our  troops,  rendered  it  inexpedient  and 
hazardous  to  attempt  pursuit.  A  staff  officer  was 
dispatched  to  General  Santa  Anna,  to  negotiate  an 
exchange  of  prisoners,  which  was  satisfactorily  com 
pleted  on  the  following  day.  Our  own  dead  were  col 
lected  and  buried,  and  the  Mexican  wounded,  of  which 
a  large  number  had  been  left  upon  the  field,  were  re 
moved  to  Saltillo,  and  rendered  as  comfortable  as  cir 
cumstances  would  permit. 

"  On  the  evening  of  the  26th,  a  close  reconnoissance 
was  made  of  the  enemy's  position,  which  was  found  to 
be  occupied  only  by  a  small  body  of  cavalry,  the  in 
fantry  and  artillery  having  retreated  in  the  direction 
of  San  Luis  Potosi.  On  the  27th,  our  troops  resumed 
their  former  camp  at  Agua  Nueva,  the  enemy's  rear 
guard  evacuating  the  place  as  we  approached,  leaving 
a  considerable  number  of  wounded.  It  was  my  pur 
pose  to  beat  up  his  quarters  at  Encarnacion  early  the 
next  morning,  but  upon  examination,  the  \veak  condi 
tion  of  the  cavalry  horses  rendered  it  unadvisable  to 
attempt  so  long  a  march  without  water.  A  command 
was  finally  dispatched  to  Encarnacion,  on  the  1st  of 
March,  under  Colonel  Belknap.  Some  two  hundred 
wounded,  and  about  sixty  Mexican  soldiers  were  found 
there,  the  army  having  passed  on  in  the  direction  of 
Matehuala,  with  greatly  reduced  numbers,  and  suffer 
ing  much  from  hunger.  The  dead  and  dying  were 
strewed  upon  the  road  and  crowded  the  buildings  of 
the  hacienda. 

"  The  American   force   engaged   in   the  action  of 


288  TAYLOR'S  REPORT  CONTINUED. 

Buena  Vista  is  shown,  by  the  accompanying  field-re 
port,  to  have  been  three  hundred  and  thirty-four  offi 
cers,  and  four  thousand  four  hundred  and  twenty-five 
men,  exclusive  of  the  small  command  left  in  and  near 
Saliillo.  Of  this  number,  two  squadrons  of  cavalry, 
and  three  batteries  of  light  artillery,  making  not  more 
than  four  hundred  and  fifty-three  men,  composed  the 
only  force  of  regular  troops.  The  strength  of  the 
Mexican  army  is  stated  by  General  Santa  Anna,  in  his 
summons,  to  be  twenty  thousand  ;  and  that  estimate  is 
confirmed  by  all  the  information  since  obtained.  Our 
loss  is  two  hundred  and  sixty-seven  killed,  four  hundred 
and  fifty-six  wounded,  and  twenty-three  missing.  Of 
the  numerous  \vounded,  many  did  not  require  removal 
to  the  hospital,  and  it  is  hoped  that  a  comparatively 
small  number  will  be  permanently  disabled.  The 
Mexican  loss  in  killed  and  wounded  may  be  fairly  esti 
mated  at  one  thousand  and  five  hundred,  and  will 
probably  reach  two  thousand.  At  least  five  hundred 
of  their  killed  were  left  upon  the  field  of  battle.  We 
have  no  means  of  ascertaining  the  number  of  deserters 
and  dispersed  men  from  their  ranks,  but  it  is  known  to 
be  very  great. 

"  Our  loss  has  been  especially  severe  in  officers, 
twenty-eight  having  been  killed  upon  the  field.  We 
have  to  lament  the  death  of  Captain  George  Lincoln, 
assistant  adjutant-general,  serving  in  the  staff  of  Gen 
eral  Wool — a  young  officer  of  high  bearing  and  ap 
proved  gallantry,  who  fell  early  in  the  action.  No 
loss  falls  more  heavily  upon  the  army  in  the  field,  than 
that  of  Colonels  Hardin  and  McKee,  and  Lieutenan- 
Colonel  Clay.  Possessing  in  a  remarkable  degree  the 
confidence  of  their  commands,  and  the  last  two  having 
enjoyed  the  advantage  of  a  military  education,  I  had 


TAYLOR'S  REPORT  CONTINUED.  289 

looked  particularly  to  them  for  support  in  case  we  met 
the  enemy.  I  need  not  say  that  their  zeal  in  engaging 
the  enemy,  and  the  cool  and  steadfast  courage  with 
which  they  maintained  their  positions  during  the  day, 
fully  realized  my  hopes,  and  caused  me  to  feel  yet 
more  sensibly  their  untimely  loss. 

"  I  perform  a  grateful  duty  in  bringing  to  the  notice 
of  the  Government  the  general  good  conduct  of  the 
troops.  Exposed  for  successive  nights,  without  fires, 
to  the  severity  of  the  weather,  they  were  very  prompt 
and  cheerful  in  the  discharge  of  every  duty ;  and 
finally  displayed  conspicuous  steadiness  and  gallantry 
in  repulsing,  at  great  odds,  a  disciplined  foe.  While 
the  brilliant  success  achieved  by  their  arms  releases 
me  from  the  painful  necessity  of  specifying  many  cases 
of  bad  conduct  before  the  enemy,  I  feel  an  increased 
obligation  to  mention  particular  corps  and  officers, 
whose  skill,  coolness  and  gallantry,  in  trying  situations, 
and  under  a  continued  and  heavy  fire,  seem  to  merit 
particular  notice. 

"  To  Brigadier-General  Wool  my  obligations  are 
especially  due.  The  high  state  of  discipline  and  in 
struction  of  several  of  the  volunteer  regiments  was 
attained  under  his  command,  and  to  his  vigilance  and 
arduous  service  before  the  action,  and  his  gallantry  and 
activity  on  the  field,  a  large  share  of  our  success  may 
justly  be  attributed.  During  most  of  the  engagement 
he  was  in  immediate  command  of  the  troops  thrown 
back  on  our  left  flank.  I  beg  leave  to  recommend  him 
to  the  favorable  notice  of  the  government.  Brigadier- 
General  Lane  (slightly  wounded.)  was  active  and 
zealous  throughout  the  day,  and  displayed  great  cool 
ness  and  gallantry  before  the  enemy. 

"  The  services   of  the  light  artillery,   always  con- 


290  TAYLOR'S  REPORT  CONTINUED. 

spicuous,  were  more  than  usually  distinguished.  Mov 
ing  rapidly  over  the  roughest  ground,  it  was  always  in 
action  at  the  right  place,  and  the  right  time,  and  its 
well-directed  fire  dealt  destruction  in  the  masses  of  the 
enemy.  While  I  recommend  to  particular  favor  the 
gallant  conduct  and  valuable  services  of  Major  Munroe, 
chief  of  artillery,  and  Captains  Washington,  Fourth 
artillery,  and  Sherman  and  Bragg,  Third  artillery, 
commanding  batteries,  I  deem  it  no  more  than  just  to 
mention  all  the  subaltern  officers.  They  were  nearly 
all  detached  at  different  times,  and  in  every  situation 
exhibited  conspicuous  skill  and  gallantry.  Captain 
O'Brien,  Lieutenants  Brent,  Whiting,  and  Couch, 
Fourth  artillery,  and  Bryan,  topographical  engineers, 
(slightly  wounded,)  w7ere  attached  to  Captain  Wash 
ington's  battery.  Lieutenants  Thomas,  Reynolds,  and 
French,  Third  artillery,  (severely  wounded,)  to  that  of 
Captain  Sherman ;  and  Captain  Shover  and  Lieutenant 
Kilburn,  Third  artillery,  to  that  of  Captain  Bragg. 
Captain  Shover,  in  conjunction  with  Lieutenant  Don 
aldson,  First  artillery,  rendered  gallant  and  important 
service  in  repulsing  the  cavalry  of  General  Minon. 
The  regular  cavalry,  under  Lieutenant-Colonel  May, 
with  which  was  associated  Captain  Pike's  squadron 
of  Arkansas  horse,  rendered  useful  service  in  holding 
the  enemy  in  check,  and  in  covering  the  batteries  at 
several  points.  Captain  Steene,  First  dragoons,  was 
severely  wounded  early  in  the  day,  while  gallantly  en 
deavoring,  with  my  authority,  to  rally  the  troops  which 
were  falling  to  the  rear. 

"  The  Mississippi  riflemen,  under  Colonel  Davis, 
were  highly  conspicuous  for  their  gallantry  and  stead 
iness,  and  sustained  throughout  the  engagement  the 
reputation  of  veteran  troops.  Brought  into  action 


TAYLOR'S  REPORT  CONTINUED.  291 

against  an  immensely  superior  force,  they  maintained 
themselves  for  a  long  time  unsupported,  and  with  heavy 
loss,  and  held  an  important  part  of  the  field  until  re 
inforced.  Colonel  Davis,  though  severely  wounded, 
remained  in  the  saddle  until  the  close  of  the  action. 
His  distinguished  coolness  and  gallantry  at  the  head  of 
his  regiment  on  this  day,  entitle  him  to  the  particular 
notice  of  the  government.  The  Third  Indiana  reg 
iment,  under  Colonel  Lane,  and  a  fragment  of  the 
Second,  under  Colonel  Bowles,  were  associated  with 
the  Mississippi  regiment  during  the  greater  portion  of 
the  day,  and  acquitted  themselves  creditably  in  repuls 
ing  the  attempts  of  the  enemy  to  break  that  portion  of 
our  line.  The  Kentucky  cavalry,  under  Colonel  Mar 
shall,  rendered  good  service  dismounted,  acting  as 
light  troops,  on  our  left,  and  afterwards,  with  a  portion 
of  the  Arkansas  regiment,  in  meeting  and  dispersing 
the  column  of  cavalry  at  Buena  Vista.  The  First  and 
Second  Illinois,  and  the  Kentucky  regiments,  served 
immediately  under  my  eye,  and  I  bear  a  willing  testi 
mony  to  their  excellent  conduct  throughout  the  day. 
The  spirit  and  gallantry  with  which  the  First  Illinois 
and  Second  Kentucky  engaged  the  enemy  in  the 
morning,  restored  confidence  to  that  part  of  the  field, 
while  the  list  of  casualties  will  show  howr  much  these 
three  regiments  suffered  in  sustaining  the  heavy  charge 
of  the  enemy  in  the  afternoon.  Captain  Conner's 
company  of  Texas  volunteers,  attached  to  the  Second 
Illinois  regiment,  fought  bravely,  its  captain  being 
wounded  and  twro  subalterns  killed.  Colonel  Bissell, 
the  only  surviving  colonel  of  these  regiments,  merits 
notice  for  his  coolness  and  bravery  on  this  occasion 
After  the  fall  of  the  field-officers  of  the  First  Illinois 
and  Second  Kentucky  regiments,  the  command  of  the 


292  TAYLOR'S  REPORT  CONTINUED. 

former  devolved  upon  Lieutenant-Colonel  Weather- 
ford  ;  that  of  the  latter  on  Major  Fry. 

"  Regimental  commanders  and  others  who  have  ren 
dered  reports,  speak  in  general  terms  of  the  good  con 
duct  of  their  officers  and  men,  and  have  specified  many 
names,  but  the  limits  of  this  report  forbid  a  recapitula 
tion  of  them  here.  I  may,  however,  mention  Lieuten 
ants  Rucker  and  Campbell  of  the  dragoons,  and  Captain 
Pike,  Arkansas  cavalry,  commanding  squadrons ;  Lieu 
tenant-Colonel  Field,  Kentucky  cavalry;  Lieutenant- 
Colonel  Roane,  Arkansas  cavalry,  upon  whom  the  com 
mand  devolved  after  the  fall  of  Colonel  Yell ;  Major 
Bradford,  Captain  Sharpe  (severely  wounded,)  and  Ad 
jutant  Griffith,  Mississippi  regiment ;  Lieutenant-Colo 
nel  Hadden,  Second  Indiana  regiment,  and  Lieutenant 
Robinson,  aide-de-camp  to  General  Lane  ;  Lieutenant- 
Colonel  Weatherford,  First  Illinois  regiment ;  Lieuten 
ant-Colonel  Morrison,  Major  Trail,  and  Adjutant 
Whiteside,  (severely  wounded,)  Second  Illinois  regi 
ment  ;  and  Major  Fry,  Second  Kentucky  regiment,  as 
being  favorably  noticed  for  gallantry  and  good  conduct. 
Major  McCulloch,  quartermaster  in  the  volunteer  ser 
vice,  rendered  important  services  before  the  engage 
ment,  in  the  command  of  a  spy  company,  and  during 
the  affair  was  associated  with  the  regular  cavalry.  To 
Major  Warren,  First  Illinois  volunteers,  I  feel  much  in 
debted  for  his  firm  and  judicious  course,  while  exercis 
ing  command  in  the  city  of  Saltillo. 

"  The  medical  staff,  undev  able  direction  of  As 
sistant  Surgeon  Hitchcock,  assiduous  in  attention 
to  the  wounded  on  the  field,  and  in  their  careful  remo 
val  to  the  rear.  Both  in  these  respects,  and  in  the  sub 
sequent  organization  and  service  of  the  hospitals,  the 


TAYLOR'S  REPORT  CONTINUED.  293 

administration  of  this  department  was  everything  that 
could  be  wished. 

"  Brigadier-General  Wool  speaks  in  high  terms  of  the 
officers  of  his  staff,  and  I  take  pleasure  in  mentioning 
them  here,  having  witnessed  their  activity  and  zeal 
upon  the  field.  Lieutenant  and  Aide-de-camp  McDow 
ell,  Colonel  Churchill,  inspector  general,  Captain  Chap 
man,  assistant  quartermaster,  Lieutenant  Sitgreaves, 
topographical  engineers,  and  Captains  Howard  and 
Davis,  volunteer  service,  are  conspicuously  noticed  by 
the  General  for  their  gallantry  and  good  conduct. 
Messrs.  March,  Addicks,  Potts.  Harrison,  Burgess,  and 
Dusenbery,  attached  in  various  capacities  to  General 
Wool's  headquarters,  are  likewise  mentioned  for  their 
intelligent  alacrity  in  conveying  orders  to  all  parts  of 
the  field. 

"  In  conclusion,  I  beg  leave  to  speak  of  my  own  staff, 
to  whose  exertions  in  rallying  troops  and  communicat 
ing  orders  I  feel  greatly  indebted.  Major  Bliss,  assist 
ant  adjutant-general,  Captain  J.  H.  Eaton,  and  Lieu 
tenant  R.  S.  Garnett,  aides-de-camp,  served  near  my 
person,  and  were  prompt  and  zealous  in  the  discharge 
of  every  duty.  Major  Munroe,  besides  rendering  val 
uable  service  as  chief  of  artillery,  was  active  and  in 
strumental,  as  were  also  Colonels  Churchill  and  Belknap, 
T  inspectors  general,  in  rallying  troops  and  disposing  them 
for  the  defence  of  the  train  and  baggage.  Colonel 
Whiting,  quartermaster-general,  and  Captain  Eaton, 
chief  of  the  subsistence  department,  were  engaged  with 
the  duties  of  their  departments,  and  also  served  in  my 
immediate  staff  on  the  field.  Captain  Sibley,  assistant 
quartermaster,  was  necessarily  left  with  the  headquarter 
camp  near  town,  where  his  services  were  highly  useful. 
Major  Mansfield  and  Lieutenant  Benham,  engineers, 


294  SANTA  ANNA'S  HUMANE  SUMMONS. 

and  Captain  Linnard  and  Lieutenants  Pope  and  Frank 
lin,  topographical  engineers,  were  employed  before  and 
during  the  engagement  in  making  reconnoissances,  and 
on  the  field  were  very  active  in  bringing  information 
and  in  conveying  my  orders  to  distant  points.  Lieu 
tenant  Kingsbury,  in  addition  to  his  proper  duties  as 
ordnance  officer,  Captain  Chilton,  assistant  quarter 
master,  and  Majors  Dix  and  Coffee,  served  also  as  extra 
aides-de-camp,  and  were  actively  employed  in  the  trans 
mission  of  orders.  Mr.  Thomas  L.  Crittenden,  of  Ken 
tucky,  though  not  in  service,  volunteered  as  my  aide- 
de-camp  on  this  occasion,  and  served  with  credit  in 
that  capacity.  Major  Craig,  chief  of  ordnance,  and 
Surgeon  Craig,  medical  director,  had  been  detached  on 
duty  from  headquarters,  and  did  not  reach  the  ground 
until  the  morning  of  the  24th — too  late  to  participate 
in  the  action,  but  in  time  to  render  useful  services  in 
their  respective  departments  of  the  staff." 

The  following  is  the  summons  of  Santa  Anna  to 
General  Taylor  to  surrender.  It  evinces  much  more 
humanity  for  the  American  troops  than  the  Mexican 
general  had  ever  shown  for  his  own,  and  is  a  model  of 
that  assurance  for  which  he  is  far  more  celebrated  than 
for  his  military  talent  or  courage. 

"  You  are  surrounded  by  twenty  thousand  men,  and 
cannot,  in  any  human  probability,  avoid  suffering  a 
rout,  and  being  cut  to  pieces  with  your  troops  ;  but  as 
you  deserve  consideration  and  particular  esteem,  I  wish 
to  save  you  from  a  catastrophe,  and  for  that  purpose 
give  you  this  notice,  in  order  that  you  may  surrender 
at  discretion,  under  the  assurance  that  you  will  be 
treated  with  the  consideration  belonging  to  the  Mexican 
character ;  to  which  end  you  will  be  granted  an  hour's 


GENERAL  SANTA  ANNA 


SANTA  AXXA'S  ACCOUNT.  295 

time  to  make  up  your  mind,  to  commence  from  the  mo 
ment  when  my  flag  of  truce  arrives  in  your  camp." 

To  this  characteristic  document  General  Taylor  im 
mediately  returned  the  following  laconic  and  modest 
reply : 

"  In  reply  to  your  note  of  this  date,  summoning  me 
to  surrender  my  forces  at  discretion,  I  beg  leave  to  say 
that  I  decline  acceding  to  your  request." 

Having  now  given  the  sober  facts  of  one  of  the  most 
decisive  as  well  as  the  most  remarkable  victories  ever 
won  by  American  arms,  it  is  appropriate  to  present 
some  of  the  romance  of  history  connected  \vith  an  event 
which  is  the  source  of  so  much  just  pride  in  America, 
and  of  admiration  in  Europe.  The  official  report  of 
the  battle  by  General  Santa  Anna,  supplies  this  embel 
lishment.  This  report  of  the  wily  Mexican  commander, 
however,  is  important  in  another  point  of  view ;  for 
while  it  claims  a  victory  over  the  American  forces,  it 
virtually  sustains  General  Taylor's  account,  and  proves 
t-hat  the  Mexican  army  wras  almost  literally  cut  to  pieces. 
No  one  can  question  this  fact  after  having  read  the  art 
ful  and  ingenious  attempt  to  cover  the  disasters  he  had 
suffered,  and  justify  to  his  government  his  failure  to  re 
deem  the  just  expectations  that  had  been  created  by 
his  magnificent  preparations  and  his  more  magnificent 
promises.  He  says  : 

"  In  my  dispatch  from  the  battle-field  of  Angostura, 
dated  the  23d,  I  promised  to  give  you  details  of  the 
action  of  the  23d,  so  soon  as  I  should  effect  the  move 
ment  which  our  entire  lack  of  water  and  of  all  supplies 
made  indispensable.  In  those  engagements  the  army 
and  the  nation  have  restored  the  lustre  of  their  arms, 
by  overcoming  obstacles  inconceivable  to  all  save  those 
who  witnessed  them.  These  arose,  not  only  from  the 


296  HIS    EMBARRASSMENTS. 

difficulties  of  this  contest,  and  of  our  own  situation, 
but  also  from  the  rigor  of  the  season,  and  the  ex 
haustion  of  the  country  along  an  almost  desert  route 
of  over  fifty  leagues,  that  was  destitute  of  good  water, 
and  of  all  save  the  most  limited  supplies. 

"  The  supreme  government  was  informed  by  com 
munications  made  before  my  leaving  San  Luis,  that 
the  army  under  my  command  would  not  commence  its 
operations  till  the  end  of  winter,  as  I  knew  by  experi 
ence  the  severe  climate  of  the  region,  which  was  also 
scant  of  habitations,  provisions,  shelter,  and  even  of 
fuel.  I  therefore  resolved  to  go  on  organizing,  drill 
ing,  arming  and  clothing  the  army ;  and,  in  a  word,  to 
put  into  a  military  shape  the  forces  which  had  just 
been  assembled.  My  intentions,  however,  could  not 
be  maturely  realized. 

"  The  want  of  pecuniary  resources  embarrassed  all 
my  dispositions^  The  soldiers,  though  well  disposed 
to  combat  with  the  enemy,  had  been  badly  supplied  for 
a  month,  and  would  soon  have  been  in  \vant  even  of 
food,  but  that  the  exertions  of  the  commanders  of  corps 
prevented  that  destitution  from  driving  them  from  their 
ranks.  While  those  meritorious  men  were  suffering 
all  kinds  of  privation,  certain  writers,  from  ignorance 
want  of  reflection,  party  spirit,  or,  perhaps,  from  mis 
taken  patriotism,  were  zealously  engaged  in  thwarting 
the  plans  which  might  otherwise  have  proved  success 
ful.  This  they  did  by  unjust  charges  against  the  army 
and  particular  individuals,  whom  they  abused  for  nol 
marching  to  the  conflict,  accusing  them  of  want  of 
decision,  and  asserting  that  the  position  of  the  army  at 
San  Luis  was  more  threatening  to  our  liberties  than  to 
the  enemy.  In  the  clubs  of  that  capital  they  labored 
with  assiduity  to  make  the  army  the  instrument  of  a 


A    CHARGE    OF    TREASON.  297 

revolt ;  but  I  frustrated  their  intrigues  by  timely  steps. 
There  was  one  writer  who  had  the  audacity  to  intimate 
that  I  wras  in  collusion  with  the  enemy.  Yes,  I,  to 
whom  they  may  attribute  errors,  but  whose  whole  pre 
vious  course  has  shown  the  most  elevated  patriotism ! 
Traitors  are  they  who  seek  not  only  to  traduce  me, 
but,  by  their  detraction  of  the  army,  to  unnerve  its 
vigor  for  the  service  of  the  country.  It  seems  as  if  a 
fatality  directs  the  destinies  of  this  nation,  and  inter 
dicts  a  unanimity  of  the  public  will  for  its  defence ; 
and  from  this  fatal  blindness,  the  moment  when  every 
heart  and  every  aspiration  should  be  directed  to  one 
object,  is  the  very  juncture  when  division  and  distrust 
are  disseminated.  Behold  me,  then,  compelled  by 
every  circumstance  to  change  my  plans.  Desertion 
had  already  commenced  to  a  shameful  extent ;  and  I 
was  fully  persuaded  that  if  the  scarcity  should  con 
tinue,  the  army  would  be  dishonorably  frittered  away. 
I  therefore  resolved  that,  if  annihilated,  it  should  be 
with  glory.  Having  no  supplies,  I,  to  obtain  them, 
compromitted  my  private  fortune  and  the  credit  of  my 
self  and  friends.  All  this  procured  me  the  sum  of  one 
hundred  and  eighty  thousand  dollars,  with  which  I 
was  able  to  furnish  the  needful  supplies  to  the  army 
for  twelve  days.  I  knew  well  the  country  we  had  to 
cross,  and  the  necessity  there  would  be  for  carrying 
provisions ;  and  I  sympathized  in  anticipation  with  the 
soldier  for  what  he  would  endure  from  the  rigor  of 
the  season ;  but  to  render  good  service  to  the  country, 
and  save  its  honor,  I  had  to  overlook  all  this. 

"  The  army  moved  from  San  Luis  by  brigades,  so  as 
to  render  available  the  scanty  resources  afforded  by 
the  country  we  were  to  cross.  The  force  consisted  of 
thirteen  thousand  four  hundred  and  thirty-two  infan- 


21 


298  FORCE    UNDER    IJIS    COMMAND. 

try,  divided  into  twenty-eight  battalions ;  four  thou 
sand  three  hundred  and  thirty-eight  cavalry,  in  thirty- 
nine  squadrons ;  and  a  train  of  artillery  of  three  twenty- 
four  pounders,  three  sixteen-pounders,  five  twelve-poun 
ders,  five  eight-pounders,  and  a  seven-inch  howitzer, 
all  served  by  four  hundred  and  thirteen  artillerymen — 
the  total  being  eighteen  thousand  one  hundred  and 
thirty- three  men.  Of  this  force  there  remained  behind, 
the  garrison  of  the  works  of  San  Luis,  and  others 
which  I  allotted  to  the  towns  on  the  route ;  as  also  two 
squadrons  to  escort  our  small  and  only  reserve  of  am 
munition  ;  a  brigade  of  infantry,  of  two  battalions, 
under  General  Don  Ciriaco  Vasquez,  which  remained 
as  a  corps  of  reserve  in  Matehuala,  and  of  observation 
upon  Tula  ;  as  also  a  brigade  of  cavalry,  under  General 
Don  Jose  Urrea.  The  latter  was  intended  to  pass 
Tula,  and  move  through  Tamaulipas  to  the  neighbor 
hood  of  Monterey,  so  as  to  call  the  enemy's  attention 
to  that  quarter.  The  point  of  concentration  for  the 
brigades  ought  necessarily  to  be  near  this  place,  so  that 
in  the  region  through  which  they  had  to  move,  many 
troops  might  not  be  at  once  thrown  together.  I  there 
fore  fixed  on  the  hacienda  of  Encarnacion  for  that 
point,  it  being,  as  I  calculated,  the  last  stage  but  one  of 
my  march.  I  there  held  a  review  of  the  army,  which 
had  already  lost  a  thousand  men  by  sickness  and  deser 
tion.  The  former  was  caused  by  the  scantiness  and 
bad  quality  of  food,  and  still  more  of  water,  which 
was  brackish  as  well  as  scarce,  as  also  by  snow  storms 
and  the  exposure  of  the  troops,  who  had  always  to  be 
in  bivouac  and  without  fuel.  These  snow  storms 
obliged  me  to  suspend  the  march  two  days,  till  the 
weather  became  more  settled ;  for  the  cold  had  already 
caused  the  death  of  several  men  and  horses,  and  I  felt 


THE    PLAX    OF    BATTLE.  299 

bound  by  every  means  to  diminish  the  losses  we  were 
incurring.  These  hardships  will  account  for  the  num 
ber  of  desertions  which  occurred  up  to  our  arrival  at 
Encarnacion,  and  which  afterwards  even  ^increased. 
It  must  also  be  remembered,  that  almost  the  whole  army 
had  been  recently  formed,  and,  as  is  well  known,  of 
men  taken  by  violence  from  their  homes. 

"  We  had  advices  that  the  enemy  were  fortified  in 
the  hacienda  of  Agua  Nueva,  with  six  thousand  men 
and  thirty  pieces,  resolved  to  defend  the  defiles  known 
by  the  names  of  the  passes  of  Canero  and  Agua  Nueva. 
The  Americans  did  not  know  the  precise  point  on 
which  our  march  was  directed  ;  for,  though  they  ex 
changed  some  shots  with  our  advance  in  Encarnacion, 
and  had  frequently  small  skirmishes  with  us  in  the 
above  passes,  they  supposed  our  troops  to  be  scouting 
parties  of  the  first  brigade  of  cavalry,  under  Don  Jose 
V.  Minon,  whom  I  had  advanced  as  far  as  the  hacienda 
of  Potosi.  These  were  the  impressions  when  I  made 
my  dispositions. 

"  It  was  my  intention  to  place  my  forces  between  the 
enemy  and  Saltillo,  so  as  to  oblige  him  to  fight  under 
the  disadvantage  of  having  his  communication  cut  off, 
or,  if  he  would  not  leave  his  works,  to  enable  me  to 
besiege  him  in  Agua  Nueva.  The  plan  might  be  car 
ried  out  in  three  different  ways.  One  was  by  march 
ing  twenty  leagues  by  the  direct  road  ;  another  by  mo 
ving  to  the  right  by  La  Hedionda,  so  as  to  occupy 
Buena  Vista ;  and  the  third,  by  moving  to  the  left  by 
La  Punta  de  Santa  Elena,  so  as  to  occupy  the  ha 
cienda  of  La  Banqueria,  and  thereafter  the  road  to 
Saltillo.  The  two  last  movements  were  at  this  time 
impracticable,  for  they  would  either  of  them  require 
three  or  four  days'  march,  while  we  were  without 


300  A    MEXICAN    DESERTER. 

provisions,  forage,  or  water.  I  therofore  resolved  to 
operate  by  the  direct  road,  force  the  positions,  and, 
after  passing  the  last  defile,  make  a  diversion  by  the 
left,  and  occupy  the  rancho  of  Encantada,  with  the 
view  of  obtaining  water,  none  of  which  was  to  be  had 
for  more  than  eighteen  leagues.  All  this  was  favored 
by  the  enemy's  ignorance  of  our  march ;  but  misfor 
tune  still  followed  us.  A  deserter  from  the  regiment 
of  Coraceras,  a  native  of,  Saltillo,  named  Francisco 
Valdes,  passed  over  from  Encarnacion  to  the  enemy, 
and  gave  him  information  of  the  movement.  The  ex 
ecrable  treason  of  this  infamous  wretch  frustrated  the 
best  combinations. 

"  On  the  21st,  at  noon,  I  ordered  the  march  to  com 
mence,  the  four  light  battalions,  under  General  Don 
Pedro  Ampudia,  forming  the  vanguard.  I  had  not 
hesitated  to  allow  that  general,  and  other  officers  who 
had  been  court-martialled  for  the  affair  of  Monterey, 
to  participate  in  these  operations,  not  only  because  I 
did  not  consider  them  culpable,  but  also  on  account  of 
the  zeal  they  manifested.  This  brigade  was  followed 
by  one  of  artillery,  of  sixteen-pounders,  with  the  regi 
ments  of  engineers  and  their  train,  and  those  by  the 
park  of  the  regiment  of  hussars.  Then  came  the  First 
division,  commanded  by  General  Don  Manuel  Lom- 
bardini,  with  four  twelve-pounders  and  the  park.  The 
second  division,  under  General  Don  Francisco  Pacheco, 
followed  next,  with  four  eight-pounders  and  their  park ; 
after  these  the  whole  of  the  cavalry,  under  Don  Julian 
Juvera ;  and  then  the  remainder  of  the  general  park 
and  baggage,  the  rear  being  covered  by  a  brigade  of 
cavalry  under  General  Don  Manuel  Andrade. 

"  In  this  order  of  march  the  troops  were  ordered  to 
make  the  first  fourteen  leagues,  between  Encenada 


A    SAD    DISAPPOINTMENT.  301 

and  a  plain  called  De  la  Guerra,  which  is  in  front  of  the 
first  defile  called  the  pass  of  the  Pinones ;  and  to  pass 
the  night  on  that  plain  in  the  same  order  of  column. 
The  troops  having  eaten  their  rations,  order  was  given 
for  carrying  water,  as  none  could  be  met  with  till  the 
day  following,  after  having  overcome  the  enemy  at 
Agua  Nueva,  three  leagues  beyond  the  aforesaid  pass. 
I,  with  my  staff  and  the  regiment  of  engineers,  occu 
pied  the  front,  a  little  behind  the  light  troops.  On  ar 
riving  at  the  plain  De  la  Guerra,  I  continued  the  march 
in  order  to  pass  the  defile  of  Pinones,  which  was  ac 
complished  ;  and  I  ordered  the  light  brigade  to  take  a 
position  in  the  pass  of  Carnero,  where  it  had  a  skir 
mish  with  an  advance  of  the  enemy.  Under  these 
dispositions  we  passed  the  night. 

"  At  dawn  on  the  22d  the  army  continued  its  march, 
with  the  idea  of  carrying  by  force  of  arms  the  pass  of 
Agua  Nueva  which  I  supposed  would  be  defended  by 
the  enemy ;  but  I  found  to  my  surprise  that  it  had  been 
abandoned.  I  then  concluded  that  the  American  for 
ces  had  retired  to  their  fortifications  in  the  hacienda, 
to  concentrate  their  defence  under  cover  of  the  in- 
trenchments  which  I  had  heard  they  had  there  thrown 
up.  Under  this  idea  I  continued  the  march,  in  order 
to  turn  by  the  right  to  the  rancho  of  Encantada,  which, 
as  I  have  before  mentioned,  is  on  the  Saltillo  road,  be 
ing  between  that  city  and  Agua  Nueva,  and  four  or 
five  leagues  from  each.  Till  that  time  no  one  had  ap 
peared  to  give  me  information,  nor  did  any  one  after, 
except  a  servant  from  Agua  Nueva,  who  told  me  that 
the  enemy  had  been  evacuating  his  position  since  the 
day  previous,  and  falling  back  towards  Saltillo ;  and 
that  on  that  same  morning,  the  hacienda  had  been 
wholly  abandoned,  by  the  retreat  of  a  small  detach- 


302  AN    IMAGINED    RETREAT. 

ment  which  escorted  a  large  quantity  of  munitions. 
By  this  movement  my  first  plans  and  dispositions, 
founded  on  an  expected  resistance,  were  rendered  abor 
tive  ;  but  I  still  did  not  despair  of  a  successful  result, 
for  I  had  in  anticipation  directed  General  Minon,  with 
his  cavalry  brigade,  twelve  hundred  strong,  to  occupy, 
on  the  morning  of  the  22d,  the  hacienda  of  Buena 
Vista,  distant  three  short  leagues  from  Saltillo.  This 
force  might  arrest  the  enemy's  march,  or,  at  least,  make 
a  diversion  that  would  give  time  for  the  army  to  come 
up.  I  therefore  continued  my  march,  without  losing 
more  time  than  would  allow  the  soldiers  to  drink  water 
on  the  road.  The  light  brigade  came  within  sight  of 
the  enemy's  rear-guard,  and  I  ordered  them  to  charge 
in  conjunction  with  the  hussar  regiment.  I  had  rea 
son  to  believe  the  enemy  were  making  a  precipitate 
retreat,  as  they  left  several  articles  on  the  road,  such 
as  carts,  forge  implements,  extra  wheels,  and  other 
things,  which  we  gathered  while  marching.  In  conse 
quence  of  the  different  reports  I  received,  I  ordered  the 
cavalry  to  advance ;  I  thought  we  would  be  able  to 
reach  their  rear-guard,  and  placed  myself  at  the  head 
of  those  troops. 

"  On  arriving  at  a  place  called  Angostura,  I  found 
the  main  body  of  the  enemy  awaiting  me  in  position. 
The  road  from  the  pass  of  Pinones  to  Saltillo  runs  be 
tween  two  chains  of  mountains,  which  form  that  pass 
and  those  of  Carnero  and  Agua  Nueva.  The  ridges 
open  beyond  the  hacienda,  and  approach  each  other 
again  at  Angostura,  where  the  road  turns  to  the  right. 
At  this  place  there  is  a  succession  of  ridges,  which  run 
out  toward  the  line  of  our  route,  and  at  right  angles 
with  it,  and  between  them  are  ravines  which  form  the 
drains  of  the  mountains  on  the  right.  They  are  more 


MISREPRESENTATION    OF    TAYLOIl's    FORCES.         303 

or  less  passable,  but  all  very  difficult.  The  enemy's 
position  was  in  front  and  in  rear  of  the  road,  his  right 
and  front  being  covered  by  ravines  that  were  impassa 
ble,  even  for  infantry,  and  a  battery  of  four  pieces  be 
ing  planted  on  the  highest  point.  His  battalions  were 
formed  on  the  heights  with  two  other  batteries,  one  of 
which  was  in  a  low  part  of  the  road,  betwen  two  hills ; 
and,  to  my  view,  their  forces  appeared  to  be  about 
eight  thousand  men,  with  twenty  pieces  ;  but  the  pris 
oners  . taken  from  them  report  twenty-six  pieces,  and 
upwards  of  eight  thousand  combatants. 

"  I  reconnoitred  the  position  and  situation  of  the 
enemy,  and  ordered  the  director  of  engineers,  General 
Don  Ignacio  de  Mora  y  Villamil,  to  do  the  same.  Af 
ter  ascertaining  the  force  of  the  invader,  it  was  neces 
sary  either  to  await  the  infantry,  to  take  position,  or 
to  fight,  as  might  seem  most  advisable.  At  this  inter 
val,  I  observed  that  the  enemy  had  neglected  to  occupy 
a  height  on  his  left  flank ;  and,  without  losing  a  mo 
ment,  I  ordered  General  Ampudia's  light  brigade  to 
take  possession  of,  and  hold  it  at  every  cost.  As  the 
brigade  came  up,  I  formed  them  in  two  lines  on  a  ris 
ing  ground  that  fronted  the  enemy,  there  being  an 
other  eminence  between  our  two  positions ;  the  first 
division  of  infantry  was  under  the  command  of  Gene 
ral  Lombardini,  and  the  second  under  the  command 
of  General  Pacheco.  I  directed  that  General  Mora  y 
Villamil,  in  conjunction  with  the  commanding  general 
of  artillery,  Don  Antonio  Corona,  should  find  a  posi 
tion  for  a  battery  of  sixteen-pounders,  to  be  sustained 
by  the  regiment  of  engineers.  Two  other  batteries  of 
tweive  and  eight-pounders,  were  located  by  me.  The 
cavalry,  commanded  by  General  Juvera,  were  placed 
on  the  right  of  our  rear,  and  on  our  left  flank.  The 


304     SANTA  ANNA  COMMENCES  THE  ATTACK. 

regiment  of  hussars  was  also  posted  in  the  rear,  and 
on  the  left  flank  aforesaid  was  a  height  which  I  or 
dered  the  battalion  of  Leon  to  occupy.  The  general 
park  was  in  the  rear,  covered  by  the  brigade  of  Gen 
eral  Andrade,  and  between  this  park  and  the  lines  of 
battle  I  took  my  own  position. 

"  The  making  of  these  dispositions,  as  may  be  sup 
posed,  occupied  some  time,  for  the  troops  arrived  at 
their  positions  after  a  march  of  more  than  twenty 
leagues.  It  was  therefore  not  an  hour  for  combat,  and 
the  army  lay  on  its  arms.  The  enemy,  however,  so 
soon  as  he  perceived  that  we  had  occupied  the  height 
that  flanked  his  left  and  our  right,  dispatched  two  bat 
talions  to  dislodge  us,  which  led  to  a  warm  engagement, 
that  lasted  all  the  afternoon  and  till  after  dark,  when 
he  was  repulsed  with  the  loss  of  four  hundred  men,  ac 
cording  to  the  report  of  the  prisoners.  Ours  was  much 
less,  as  we  had  the  advantage  of  the  ground. 

"  At  dawn  on  the  23rd  I  mounted  my  horse ;  the 
enemy  had  not  changed  his  previous  dispositions,  and 
was  ready  to  receive  us.  I  observed  but  one  differ 
ence,  which  was,  that  on  his  right,  and  at  some  distance 
from  his  position,  he  had  formed  two  bodies  of  infan 
try,  with  a  battery  of  four  pieces,  as  if  with  the  intent 
of  threatening  our  left  flank,  but  I  at  once  believed  this 
to  be  a  mere  demonstration,  for  he  would  never  have 
left  in  his  rear  the  difficult  ground  which  gave  strength 
to  that  position,  being  the  web  of  impassable  ravines 
before  referred  to.  I,  therefore,  gave  no  attention  *to 
this  disposition  of  his  forces,  and  resolved  to  move 
mine  by  the  right.  With  this  intention,  I  advanced 
the  divisions  of  General  Lombardini  and  General  Pa- 
checo  in  that  direction.  I  ordered  General  Don  Man 
uel  Micheltorena  to  plant  the  battery  of  eight-pound- 


DISPOSITION    OF    HIS    FORCES.  305 

ers  on  our  right  flank,  so  as  to  rake  obliquely  the 
enemy's  line,  and  to  remain  with  the  staff  of  which  he 
\vas  chief,  and  await  my  orders.  I  directed  that  Gen 
eral  Ampudia,  with  the  light  brigade,  should  charge  by 
our  left  flank  on  the  enemy's  right,  and  that  General 
Mora  y  Villamil  should  form  a  column  of  attack  com 
posed  of  the  regiment  of  engineers,  the  12th  battalion, 
the  fjo  de  Mexico,  and  the  companies  of  Puebla  and 
Tampico,  commanded  by  Colonel  Don  Santiago  Blanco. 
At  the  same  time,  I  directed  General  Corona,  com 
manding  the  artillery,  to  place  the  battery  of  twelve- 
pounders  in  a  more  commanding  position,  while  the 
Third  division  remained  in  reserve,  Under  Brevet- 
General  Don  Jose  Maria  Ortega. 

So  soon  as  the  enemy  perceived  our  movements,  he 
commenced  the  action  at  all  points,  attacked  our  troops 
with  intrepidity,  and  maintained  the  conflict  with  great 
vigor.  Our  men  received  them  with  proper  energy, 
driving  back  and  following  up  the  assailants.  At  this 
time  my  horse  was  disabled  by  a  grape  shot,  and  it  was 
some  time  before  I  could  mount  another.  As  the  en 
emy  had  yielded  ground,  I  ordered  the  cavalry  to  ad 
vance  and  charge,  which  wras  done  with  vigor.  Suit 
able  orders  had  been  sent  to  the  generals  of  division 
and  brigade,  among  the  rest  to  General  Don  Angel 
Guzman  ;  but,  though  the  officers  and  troops  acted 
with  great  resolution,  it  wras  impossible  to  overcome 
the  difficulties  of  the  ground ;  and  after  a  struggle 
which  did  them  honor,  they  were  obliged  to  fall  back 
to  their  positions.  After  various  alternations,  the  same 
occurred  with  the  infantry. 

"  The  battle  which  commenced  at  seven  in  the  morn 
ing,  was  prolonged  for  many  hours,  our  loss  every  mo 
ment  accumulating.  Many  officers  and  soldiers  had 


306  ADMITS    HIS    HEAVY    LOSSES. 

already  been  killed,  and  a  number  of  commanders  md 
distinguished  officers  wounded,  among  whom  were 
General  Lombardini,  Lieutenant-Colonels  Brito,  Gal- 
loso,  and  others.  Among  the  slain  were  Lieutenant- 
Colonels  Asonos,  Berra,  and  other  meritorious  officers, 
whose  loss  the  country  will  ever  lament.  The  enemy 
maintained  his  ground  with  the  utmost  obstinacy,  inso 
much  that  some  of  our  troops  faltered  in  their  attacks, 
and  many  of  the  raw  recruits  dispersed.  This,  how 
ever,  ought  to  exalt  the  merit  of  those  whose  intrepid 
ity  was  never  paralyzed,  and  may  also  be  cited  to  show 
how  hotly  contested  was  the  action. 

"  Things  were  in  this  situation  when  I  concluded  to 
make  the  final  effort.  With  this  view  I  ordered  that  a 
battery  of  twenty-four  pounders  should  be  mounted ; 
that  the  column  of  attack  then  posted  on  our  left  flank, 
where  it  had  no  object  of  operation,  should  be  trans 
ferred  to  our  right,  and  there  be  joined  by  the  remains 
of  the  Eleventh  regiment,  the  battalion  of  Leon,  and 
the  reserves,  all  under  the  command  of  Brevet-Gene 
ral  Don  Francisco  Perez.  I  executed  this  in  person, 
and  afterwards  sent  for  General  Mora  y  Villamil,  and 
made  him  acquainted  with  my  final  disposition.  I  had 
already  directed  Generals  Perez  and  Pacheco,  each 
with  his  command,  to  be  prepared  for  an  extreme  strug 
gle,  and  had  ordered  the  battery  of  eight-pounders  to 
advance  and  take  the  enemy's  line  in  flank.  The 
charge  wras  made  with  daring  \ralor,  and  was  resisted 
with  animated  vigor,  with  a  fire  so  heavy  and  rapid  as 
to  cause  admiration  ;  but  the  Americans  could  not  sus 
tain  themselves — they  were  di  ven  back  and  overcome, 
with  the  loss  of  three  pieces  of  cannon  and  as  many 
stands  of  colors.  I  sent  two  of  the  latter  to  the  gov 
ernment  with  my  last  dispatch  ;  the  other,  which  I 


GREAT  GLORY  HE  ACQUIRED.  307 

then  omitted  to  notice,  will  be  presented  to  the  honor 
able  congress  of  the  state  of  San  Luis  Potosi,  as  a 
testimonial  of  the  army's  gratitude  for  the  patriotic 
services  they  had  rendered,  and  the  generous  sacrifices 
they  had  made  for  its  benefit.  We  moreover  captured 
a  travelling  forge,  and  some  smaller  articles,  which  I 
will  not  enumerate.  Our  cavalry,  which  so  bravely 
executed  the  order  to  charge,  reached  the  enemy's 
rearmost  positions  ;  but,  owing  to  the  nature  of  the 
ground  and  the  fatigue  of  the  men  and  horses,  I  did  not 
think  it  prudent  to  attempt  to  dislodge  them  from  those. 
The  battle  closed  at  six  in  the  evening,  our  troops  be 
ing  then  formed  on  the  ground  which  the  Americans 
had  occupied.  Our  last  effort  would  have  been  deci 
sive,  if  General  Minon  had  done  his  part  by  attacking 
the  enemy  in  the  rear ;  but  he  omitted  to  do  it,  and  I 
am  under  the  painful  necessity  of  subjecting  his  con 
duct  to  a  court-martial,  that  he  may  explain  it.  An 
action  thus  contested  necessarily  involved  considerable 
loss.  Ours  in  killed  and  wounded  amounted  to  more 
than  fifteen  hundred  men,  and  that  of  the  enemy  was 
much  greater,  for  we  had  time  to  take  a  view  of  the 
great  number  of  their  dead. 

"  The  plans  of  these  two  actions,  and  of  the  route 
from  Agua  Nueva  to  Saltillo,  and  the  reports  of  the 
generals  of  division  and  brigade,  which  I  send  with 
this  to  your  excellency,  will  give  the  supreme  govern 
ment  an  idea  of  such  details  as  I  have  not  dwelt  on 
without  making  this  report  more  diffuse ;  but  this  will 
still  serve  to  attest  the  bravery  of  our  troops,  and  the 
glory  acquired  by  the  nation  during  these  days  of 
action. 

"  In  the  order  of  the  day,  I  expressed,  as  in  duty 
bound,  my  satisfaction  with  the  conduct  of  the  officers, 


308  BRAVERY    OF    HIS    OFFICERS. 

commanders  of  corps,  and  generals,  and  gave  them 
thanks  for  it  in  the  name  of  the  republic.  I  could  wish 
to  announce  in  this  report  the  names  of  many  com 
manding  officers,  that  their  memory  may  be  engraved 
on  u,?  gratitude  of  the  nation,  not  only  for  their  reso 
lute  and  honorable  deportment  in  both  actions,  but  for 
the  constancy  with  which  they  have  overcome  so  many 
privations,  sufferings  and  fatigues,  and  given  therein 
an  example  both  of  civic  and  military  worth.  Anxious 
to  do  this  justice,  I  adopt,  as  my  own,  the  authorship 
of  those  eulogies  which  the  generals  of  brigade  and  di 
vision  have  bestowed  on  their  subordinates.  1  wrould 
moreover,  place  in  view  of  the  government,  the  merit 
manifested  by  the  director-general  of  engineers,  Don 
Ignacio  Mora  y  Villamil,  who  fulfilled,  to  my  entire 
satisfaction,  all  the  duties  I  assigned  to  him,  for  which 
I  consider  him  worthy  of  the  highest  praise,  and  of 
such  remuneration  as  the  supreme  government  may  be 
pleased  to  award  to  his  distinguished  services.  Gene 
ral  Ampudia,  to  whom,  from  the  favorable  opinion 
which  I  had  of  him,  I  intrusted  the  command  of  the 
four  light  battalions,  acquitted  himself  with  gallantry. 
General  Lombardini,  who  commanded  the  First  division 
of  infantry,  conducted  himself  with  valor,  and  was 
wounded.  General  Pacheco,  commanding  the  Second 
division  of  infantry,  came  up  to  my  orders  and  his 
duties,  and  fought  to  my  satisfaction.  General  Juvera 
comported  himself  honorably,  and  had  his  horse  killed 
under  him.  Brevet  General  Torrejon  received  a  con 
tusion,  and  General  Guzman  displayed  the  gallantry 
for  which  he  was  already  distinguished,  and  was 
wounded.  Brevet-General  Micheltorena,  as  head  of 
the  staff,  duly  performed  all  that  belonged  to  his  station ; 
and  I  also  confided  to  his  special  charge  the  battery  of 


WHY    TAYLOR    GOT    OFF    SO    WELL.  309 

eight-pounders,  which  was  the  most  in  advance.  Gen 
eral  Perez  acted  as  might  be  expected  from  his  accus 
tomed  gallantry,  and  for  this  I  intrusted  to  his  command 
the  troops  I  have  before  mentioned,  with  which  he  con 
tributed  to  disorder  the  line  of  the  enemy  at  five  in  tht 
evening.  I  would  also  commend  General  Ortega,  who 
commanded  the  Third  division  of  foot,  and  performed 
his  duties  to  my  satisfaction,  as  also  Brevet-General 
Uraga,  and  Generals  Parrodi,  Portilla,  Vasquez,  Jau- 
regui,  Terres,  and  Sanchez. 

"  It  is  entirely  due  to  the  commanding  general  of 
artillery,  Don  Antonio  Corona,  that  I  should  commend 
him  for  carrying  out  my  dispositions,  as  might  be  ex 
pected  from  him,  and  for  laboring  assiduously  at  San 
Luis,  in  the  heaviest  duties  of  his  branch  of  service ; 
and  it  is  a  pleasing  duty  for  me  to  laud  the  merit  ac 
quired  by  Colonel  Banencli,  and  Colonel  Brito,  who 
was  wounded ;  Colonel  Aldrede,  of  the  hussars,  who, 
to  my  satisfaction,  evinced  his  usual  bravery ;  Colonel 
S.  Blanco,  who  commanded  a  column  of  attack  on  the 
left,  and  acted  well,  and  Colonel  M.  Blanco — both  of 
the  last  being  of  the  engineers — as  also  Colonel  Obando, 
of  the  flying  artillery,  and  Colonel  Garay. 

"  The  report  of  the  killed  and  wounded,  which  I  also 
send,  will  show  what  has  been  our  loss.  I  should  be 
lacking  in  justice,  and  not  express  my  own  feelings 
were  I  not  most  earnestly  to  request  that  attention  be 
paid,  as  is  by  law  provided,  to  the  cases  of  the  widows, 
orphans,  and  such  of  the  wounded  as  may  be  perma 
nently  disabled. 

"  The  formidable  position  which  the  enemy  occupied, 
was  all  that  saved  him ;  the  victory  would  otherwise 
have  been  decisive,  notwithstanding  his  obstinate  resist 
ance.  Still  this  triumph  will  have  favorable  results  to 


310          HOW    THE    AMERICANS    WERE    FRIGHTENED. 

the  national  cause,  as  it  will  show  to  every  one  what 
can  be  accomplished  when  all  hearts  are  united,  and 
with  one  aim. 

"  The  army  has  done  more  than  could  be  expected 
under  the  laws  of  nature.  It  had  just  been  formed, 
and  as  yet  had  not  acquired  discipline  or  military 
habits;  yet  in  marching  to  the  combat,  it  overcame 
difficulties  which  might  have  subdued  the  stoutest 
heart.  After  a  march  of  twenty  leagues,  sixteen  of 
them  without  water,  and  without  other  food  than  a 
single  ration,  which  was  dealt  out  at  Encarnacion,  it 
endured  the  fatigue  of  combat  for  two  days,  and  finally 
^triumphed.  With  all  this  its  physical  powers  were  ex 
hausted.  My  knowledge  of  this,  and  the  duty  I  felt  in 
attending  to  such  a  number  of  wounded,  constrained 
me,  after  remaining  a  few  hours  on  the  field  of  battle, 
to  fall  back  upon  Agua  Nueva,  for  the  relief  and  re 
freshment  of  the  troops. 

"  From  the  impression  we  had  made  on  the  enemy, 
he  did  not  appear  before  us  for  three  days.  The  bearer 
of  a  flag  of  truce,  however,  arrived  with  a  proposition 
from  General  Taylor  for  an  exchange  of  prisoners,  and 
for  our  sending  for  the  wounded  who  had  remained  on 
the  field.  He  also  expressed  to  me  the  desire  which 
the  Americans  felt  for  the  re-establishment  of  peace. 
I  replied,  in  order  that  he  might  say  the  same  to  his 
general,  that  we  sustained  the  most  sacred  of  causes — 
the  defence  of  our  territory,  and  the  preservation  of  oui 
nationality  and  rights  ;  that  we  were  not  the  aggressors, 
and  that  our  government  had  never  offended  that  of 
the  United  States.  I  observed  that  we  could  say  no 
thing  of  peace  while  the  Americans  were  on  this  side 
of  the  Bravo,  or  occupied  any  part  of  the  Mexican 
territory,  or  blockaded  our  ports ;  and  that  we  we»re 


WHY    SANTA    ANNA    DESERTED    HIS    WOUNDED.       311 

resolved  to  perish  or  vindicate  our  rights ;  that  fortune 
might  not  be  always  favorable  to  the  enemy,  and  their 
experience  of  the  22nd  and  23rd  should  convince  them 
that  it  could  change ;  I  added,  that  the  Americans 
waged  against  us  a  war  of  vandalism,  whose  excesses 
outraged  those  sentiments  of  humanity  which  one 
civilized  nation  ought  to  evince  towards  another ;  and 
that  if  he  would  go  outside  of  the  apartment  he  would 
still  see  smoking,  which  was  the  fact,  the  dwellings  of 
Agua  Nueva,  recently  a  flourishing,  though  a  small 
settlement ;  that  the  same  vestiges  of  desolation  marked 
the  route  of  his  retreat ;  and  that  if  he  would  go  a  little 
further  on,  to  Catana,  he  would  hear  the  moans  of  the 
widows  and  orphans  of  innocent  victims  who  had  been 
sacrificed  without  necessity. 

"  With  respect  to  the  wounded,  whom  I  was  invited 
to  send  for,  I  replied  that  there  could  be  none  save  those 
who  had  been  too  much  hurt  to  rise  from  the  field,  or 
those  most  in  the  advance,  who  had  remained  in  the 
ravines  ;  and  that  as  I  had  not  means  for  their  convey 
ance,  the  enemy  might  take  them  to  Saltillo,  under  the 
protection  of  the  laws  of  nations.  As  for  the  prison 
ers  which  he  offered  to  exchange,  I  told  him  I  did  not 
know  who  they  could  be,  unless  it  were  some  of  our 
dispersed  troops,  or  some  who,  from  the  fatigue  of  the 
two  previous  days,  had  remained  asleep  when  we 
moved.  In  answer  to  the  courtesy  the  enemy's  general 
had  shown  with  respect  to  our  wounded,  I  consented, 
in  the  name  of  the  nation,  to  release  all  the  prisoners 
we  had — those  taken  both  in  the  battle  and  at  Encarna- 
cion.  At  the  same  time  I  allowed  the  bearer  of  the 
flag,  who  was  a  superior  officer,  of  prepossessing  ap 
pearance  and  manners,  to  take  the  bandage  from  his 
eyes,  and  informed  him  that  it  was  for  him  personally 


312  DIFFICULTIES    OF    HIS    POSITION. 

that  the  honor  of  this  concession  was  meant.  I  did  it 
also  that  he  might  see  our  camp  and  our  troops. 

"As  I  have  said  in  the  preceding  paragraph,  we 
remained  at  the  hacienda  three  days;  but  the  only 
supply  we  could  obtain  \vas  ninety  beeves,  and  these 
were  consumed  on  the  25th.  The  horses  were  also 
without  forage,  and  notwithstanding  all  the  efforts  or 
provisions  that  I  could  make,  many  of  the  wounded 
had  been  but  once  attended  to,  and  some  not  at  all. 
From  the  rigor  of  the  climate,  the  badness  and  scanti 
ness  of  the  sustenance,  the  entire  want  of  bread,  and 
the  bad  quality  of  the  water  used  in  our  former  bivouacs, 
a  bowel  complaint  had  broken  out  in  the  army,  and 
rendered  ineffective  at  least  one-half  of  it.  I  knew 
that  a  retrograde  movement  to  our  former  positions  had 
become  inevitable ;  but  though  everything  around  me 
proclaimed  this  necessity,  my  feelings  revolted  against 
it,  solely  because  I  foresaw  that  from  ignorance,  malice, 
or  presumption,  the  countermarch  would  be  condemned, 
and  that  those  who  did  not  witness  our  situation  wrould 
imagine  the  possibility  of  the  army's  continuing  its 
operations. 

"  Six  days  before,  when  the  troops  had  not  suffered 
so  much,  nor  fought  for  two  successive  days,  nor  been 
embarrassed  with  sick  and  wounded,  but  were  still  sound 
in  morale  and  in  health,  I  had  not  deemed  it  prudent  to 
augment  the  labors  and  difficulties  of  the  army  by  mov 
ing  to  the  right  or  to  the  left ;  how  then  would  it  have 
been  possible  to  go  on  operating  after  all  that  subse 
quently  occurred  ?  But  let  detractors  say  what  they 
will,  the  army  as  well  as  myself  will  always  answer  by 
an  appeal  to  our  conduct,  our  wishes,  and  the  notorious 
impossibility  of  carrying  them  out.  Notwithstanding 
my  conviction,  I  wished  to  hear  the  opinion  of  the  gen- 


EXPECTATIONS  FOR  THE  FUTURE.        313 

erals  and  some  of  the  commanders  of  corps,  and  to  as 
certain  if  they  could  point  out  any  resource  which  had 
not  occurred  to  me ;  without  disclosing  my  own  idea? 
on  the  subject  I  listened  to  theirs,  and  they  all  unani 
mously,  and  each  one,  by  his  opinion  separately  ex 
pressed,  showed  and  demonstrated  in  various  ways,  that 
however  good  their  will  to  remain,  the  countermarch 
of  the  army  had  become  indispensable,  but  that  this  ne 
cessity  was  not  forced  upon  us  by  the  enemy.  It  was 
not  till  I  had  heard  their  opinions  that  I  announced  my 
own  accordant  resolution,  and  the  proceedings  of  the 
council  being  drawn  up,  I  had  the  honor  of  remitting 
them  to  your  excellency  on  the  25th. 

"  On  the  26th,  after  I  had  ordered  General  Minon  to 
follow  the  movement,  the  army  commenced  its  retreat 
with  the  view  of  occupying  the  first  peopled  localities, 
where  resources  might  be  obtained,  such  as  Vanegas 
Catorce,  El  Cadral  and  Matehuala,  as  also  Tula  ;  but 
I  doubt  if  in  those  places  proper  attention  can  be  given 
to  the  sick  and  wounded — or  the  losses  we  have  sus 
tained  in  those  laborious  movements  be  remedied. 

"  The  nation,  for  which  a  triumph  has  been  gained 
at  the  cost  of  so  many  sufferings,  will  learn  that,  if  we 
were  able  to  conquer  in  the  midst  of  so  many  embar 
rassments,  there  will  be  no  doubt  as  to  our  final  success 
in  the  struggle  we  sustain,  if  every  spirit  but  rallies  to 
the  one  sacred  object  of  common  defence.  A  mere  de 
termined  number  of  men  will  not,  as  many  imagine, 
suffice  for  the  prosecution  of  war  :  it  is  indispensable 
that  they  be  armed,  equipped,  disciplined,  and  habitu 
ated,  and  that  a  systematized  support  for  such  an  or 
ganized  force  be  provided.  We  must  bear  in  mind 
that  we  have  to  combat  in  a  region  deficient  of  all  re 
sources,  and  that  everything  for  subsistence  has  to  be 


22 


311       THE  BATTLE  DESCRIBED  IN  POETRY. 

carried  along  with  the  soldiery  :  the  good  will  of  a  few 
will  not  suffice,  but  the  co-operation  of  all  is  needed ; 
and  if  we  do  not  cast  aside  selfish  interests,  and  petty 
passions,  we  can  expect  nothing  but  disaster.  The 
army,  and  myself  who  have  led  it,  have  the  satisfaction 
of  knowing  that  we  have  demonstrated  this  truth." 

The  following  heart-stirring  description  of  the  battle 
of  Buena  Vista  will  be  read  with  absorbing  interest  by 
every  American.  Captain  Pike  is  a  poet  of  no  mean 
reputation,  and  he  proved  by  his  daring  and  chivalrous 
conduct  on  the  bloody  field  he  so  well  describes,  that  if 
his  commanding  general  can  "  write  as  well  as  fight." 
he  can  fight  as  well  as  write.  Captain  Pike  commanded 
a  company  of  Arkansas  cavalry  in  the  engagement. 


BUENA    VISTA. 

From  the  Rio  Grande's  waters,  to  the  icy  lakes  of  Maine, 

Let  all  exult  for  we  have  met  the  enemy  again  : 

Beneath  their  stern  old  mountains  we  have  met  them  in  their  pride, 

And  rolled  from  Buena  Vista  back  the  battle's  bloody  tide  ; 

Where  the  enemy  came  surging,  like  the  Mississippi's  flood ; 

And  the  reaper,  Death,  was  busy  with  his  sickle  red  with  blood. 

Santa  Anta  boasted  loudly,  that  before  two  hours  were  past, 
His  lancers  through  Saltillo  should  pursue  us  thick  and  fast: 
On  came  his  solid  infantry,  line  marching  after  line; 
Lo  !  their  great  standards  in  the  sun  like  sheets  of  silver  shine ! 
With  thousands  upon  thousands,  yea,  with  more  than  four  to  one, 
A  forest  of  bright  bayonets  gleamed  fiercely  in  the  sun  \ 

Lo!  Guanajuato's  regiment ! — Lo!  Puebla's  boasted  corps ! — 
And  Guadalajara's  chosen  troops  ! — all  veterans  tried  before; 
And  galloping  upon  the  right,  four  thousand  lances  gleam, 
Where,  waving  in  the  morning  light,  their  blood-red  pennons  stream; 
And  there,  his  stern  artillery  climbs  up  the  broad  plateau — 
TWay  ha  means  to  strike  at  us  an  overwhelming  blow. 


THE    RALLYING    WAR    CRY.  315 

Now  hold  on  strongly  to  the  heights ! — for  lo !  the  mighty  tide 
Comes  thundering  like  an  avalanche,  deep,  terrible,  and  wide ; 
Now,  Illinois  !  stand  ready  ! — Xow,  Kentucky,  to  their  aid  ! 
For  a  portion  of  our  line,  alas  !  is  broken  and  dismayed ; 
A  regiment  of  fugitives  is  fleeing  from  the  field, 
And  the  day  is  lost  if  Illinois  and  brave  Kentucky  yield. 

One  of  O'Brien's  guns  is  gone  ! — on,  on  their  masses  drift, 
And  their  infantry  and  lancers  now  are  passing  round  our  left — 
Our  troops  are  driven  from  the  hills,  and  flee  in  wild  dismay, 
And  round  us  gathers,  thick  and  dark,  the  Mexican  array. 
Santa  Anna  thinks  the  day  is  gained ; — and  riding  vet  more  near, 
Minon's  dark  cloud  of  lancers  sternly  menaces  our  rear. 

Now  Lincoln,  gallant  gentleman !  lies  dead  upon  the  field, 
Who  strove  to  stay  those  men  that  in  the  storm  of  bullets  reeled. 
Now,  Washington  !  fire  fast  and  true ! — Fire,  Sherman  !  fast  and  far! 
Lo !  Bragg  comes  thundering  to  the  front,  to  breast  the  adverse  war  ! 
Santa  Anna  thinks  the  day  is  gained — ;n,  on  his  masses  crowd, 
And  the  roar  of  battle  rises  up  more  terrible  and  loud. 

Not  yet ! — our  brave  old  general  conies  to  regain  the  day. 

Kentucky,  to  the  re'scue ! — Mississippi,  to  the  fray ! 

Now  charge,  brave  Illinoisans !  Gallant  Davis  drives  the  foe, 

And  back  before  his  rifles  the  red  waves  of  lancers  flow ; 

Upon  them  yet  once  more  my  braves  !  The  avalanche  is  stayed } 

Back  rolls  the  Mexique  multitude,  all  broken  and  dismayed. 

Ho  !  May! — to  Buena  Vista !  for  the  enemy  are  near, 

And  we  have  none  there  who  can  stop  their  vehement  career: 

Still  swelling,  downward  comes  the  tide ;  Porter  and  Yell  are  slain  ! 

Marshall  before  him  drives  a  part ;  but  still  they  charge  in  vain ; — 

And  now,  in  wild  confusion  mixed,  pursuers  and  pursued, 

On  to  Saltillo  wildly  drifts  a  frantic  multitude. 

Upon  them  with  your  squadrons,  May  ! — Out  leaps  the  flashing  steel ! 

Before  his  serried  column,  how  the  frightened  lancers  reel ! 

They  flee  amain. — Now  to  the  left,  to  stay  their  triumph  there, 

Or  else  the  day  is  surely  lost  in  horror  and  despair : 

For  their  hosts  are  pouring  swiftly  on,  like  a  river  in  the  spring — 

Our  flank  is  turned,  and  on  our  left  their  cannon  thundering. 

Now,  brave  artillery !  Bold  dragoons ! — Steady  my  men,  and  calm! 
Through  rain,  cold,  hail,  and  thunder ; — now  nerve  the  gallant  arm ! 


316  THE    GALLANT    SLAIN. 

What  thougn  their  shot  falls  round  us  here,  still  thicker  than  the  hail ! 
We'll  stand  against  them,  as  the  rock  stands  firm  against  the  gale. 
Lo ! — their  battery  is  silenced  now  :  our  iron  hail  still  showers : 
They  falter,  halt,  retreat ! — Hurra !  the  glorious  day  is  ours  1 

In  front,  too,  has  the  fight  gone  well,  where  upon  gallant  Lane, 

And  on  stout  Mississippi,  the  bold  lancers  charged  in  vain. 

Ah !  brave  Third  Indiana !  ye  have  nobly  wiped  away 

The  reproach  that,  through  another  corps,  befell  your  state  to-day : 

Like  corn  before  the  tempest  crushed,  before  your  storm  of  fire, 

Santa  Anna's  boasted  chivalry  a  shattered  wreck  retire. 

Now  charge  again,  Santa  Anna !  or  the  day  is  surely  lost ; 

For  back,  like  broken  waves,  along  our  left  your  hordes  are  tossed. 

Still  louder  roar  two  batteries — his  strong  reserve  moves  on ; — 

More  work  is  there  before  you,  men,  ere  the  good  fight  is  won ; 

Now  for  your  wives  and  children  stand !  steady,  my  braves  once  more ! 

Now  for  your  lives,  your  honor,  fight !  as  you  never  fought  before. 

Ho  !  Hardin  breasts  it  bravely ! — McKee  and  Bissell  there, 
Stand  firm  before  the  storm  of  balls  that  fills  the  astonished  air. 
The  lancers  are  upon  them,  too ! — the  foe  swarms  ten  to  one — 
Hardin  is  slain — McKee  and  Clay  the  last  time  see  the  sun ; 
And  many  another  gallant  heart,  in  that  last  desperate  fray, 
Grew  cold,  its  last  thoughts  turning  to  its  loved  ones  far  away. 

Still  sullenly  the  cannon  roared — but  died  away  at  last ; 
And  o'er  the  dead  and  dying  came  the  evening  shadows  fast, 
And  then  above  the  mountains  rose  the  cold  moon's  silver  shield, 
And  patiently  and  pityingly  looked  down  upon  the  field ; — 
And  careless  of  his  wounded,  and  neglectful  of  his  dead, 
Despairingly  and  sullen,  in  the  night  Santa  Anna  fled. 

And  thus,  on  Buena  Vista's  heights,  a  long  day's  work  was  done — 
And  thus  our  brave  old  general  another  battle  won ; 
And  still  our  glorious  banner  waves  unstained  by  flight  or  shame, 
And  the  Mexicans  among  their  hills  still  tremble  at  our  name. 
So  honor  unto  those  that  stood !  Disgrace  to  those  that  fled ! 
And  everlasting  honor  to  the  brave  and  gallant  dead ! 

The  annexed  description  of  the  same  battle,  is  at 
tributed,  whether  truly  or  not  it  is  difficult  to  say,  to 
Don  Jose  Ho  Ace  de  Saltillo,  a  Mexican  of  some  celeb- 


A    MEXICAN    POEM.  317 

rity.  It  may  be  proper  to  state  that  the  poet  calls  his 
own  country  Aztec,  its  ancient  name,  while  he  gives  to 
the  Americans  the  name  of  Alleghan  or  Alleghanian. 
The  "  sun"  of  Aztec  and  the  "  stars"  of  Alleghan  are 
the  banners  of  the  respective  combatants.  The  "  pa 
triot  chief  is  Santa  Anna,  the  President  of  the  Mexi 
can  Republic,  and  commander  of  the  Mexican  troops  : 

We  saw  their  watch-fires  through  the  night, 

Light  up  the  far  horizon's  verge  ; 
We  heard  at  dawn  the  gathering  fight, 

Swell  like  the  distant  ocean  surge — 
The  thunder-tramp  of  mounted  hordes 

From  distance  sweeps  a  boding  sound, 
As  Aztec's  twenty  thousand  swords 

And  clanking  chargers  shake  the  ground. 

A  gun  ! — now  all  is  hushed  again — 

How  strange  that  lull  before  the  storm ! 
That  fearful  silence  o'er  the  plain — 

Halt  they  their  battle-line  to  form  1 
It  booms  again — again — again — 

And  through  its  thick  and  thunderous  shock 
The  war-scream  seems  to  pierce  the  brain, 

As  charging  squadrons  interlock. 
Columbia's  sons — of  different  race — 

Proud  Aztec  and  brave  Alleghan, 
Are  grappled  there  in  death-embrace, 

To  rend  each  other,  man  to  man  ! 

The  storm-clouds  lift,  and  through  the  haze, 

Dissolving  in  the  noontide  light, 
I  see  the  sun  of  Aztec  blaze 

Upon  her  banner,  broad  and  bright ! 
And  on — still  on,  her  ensigns  wave, 

Flinging  abroad  each  glorious  fold  : 
While  drooping  round  each  sullen  stave 

Cling  Alleghan's  but  half  unrolled. 

But  stay  !  that  shout  has  stirred  the  air, 
I  see  the  stripes— I  see  the  stars — 


318  MEXICAN    LAMENT. 

O  God  !  who  leads  the  phalanx  there, 
Beneath  those  fearful  meteor  bars  7 

"  OLD  ZACK"— "  OLD  ZACK"— the  war-cry  rattles, 
Amid  those  men  of  iron  tread, 

As  rung  "Old  Fritz,"  in  Europe's  battles, 
When  thus  his  host  great  Frederick  led ! 

And  where,  O  where  is  Aztec? — where, 

As  now  the  rush  of  Alleghan 
Resistless  tramples  to  despair 

The  ranks  of  our  victorious  van  1 
Still  charging  onward,  ever — ever, 

They  shatter  now  our  central  might, 
Where  half  our  bravest  lances  shiver, 

Still  struggling  to  maintain  the  fight ! 

Still  struggling,  from  the  carnage  dire 

To  snatch  our  patriot  chief  away — 
Who,  crushed  by  famine,  steel  and  fire, 

Yet  claims  as  his  the  desperate  day ; 
That  day  whose  sinking  light  is  shed 

O'er  Buena  Vista's  field,  to  tell 
Where  round  the  sleeping  and  the  dead, 

Stalks  conquering  TAYLOR'S  sentinel. 


CHAPTER  VIII. 

The  Dark  Features  of  War.— General  Taylor's  Order.— Letter  to  Mi> 
Clay  and  Governor  Lincoln. — His  private  Letter  to  E.  G.  W.  Butler. 
— His  Reference  to  the  Presidency. — Particulars  of  the  Battle  of 
Buena  Vista. — Notice  of  Clay,  Hardin,  McKee  and  Yell. — Anecdotes 
of  General  Taylor. — Incidents  of  the  Battle. — Character  and  Personal 
Appearance  of  General  Taylor. 

ALTHOUGH  the  triumph  of  our  arms  over  an  enemy 
four  times  more  numerous  than  the  forces  under  Tay 
lor,  was  received  with  universal  enthusiasm  by  all  par 
ties  and  classes  throughout  the  country,  yet  it  was  pur 
chased  at  a  sacrifice  of  life  that  filled  the  land  with 
mourning,  and  brought  desolation  and  despair  to  the 
homes  and  hearts  of  hundreds  and  thousands  of  wives, 
and  parents,  and  children,  and  brothers,  and  sisters. 
Many  of  the  noblest  spirits  of  the  nation  fell  a  sacrifice 
on  that  blood-stained  field,  and  the  reflection  that  so 
much  misery  and  heart-rending  distress  was  spread  over 
tke  land  with  the  news  that  another  glorious  victory 
had  crowned  our  arms,  moderated  the  joy,  and  subdued 
the  feelings  which  otherwise  would  have  filled  every 
breast.  None  felt  more  keenly  this  dreadful  sacrifice 
to  the  country  than  the  heroic  Taylor  himself.  Every 
thing  that  a  kind  and  humane  heart  could  suggest  to 
soothe  the  afflictions  of  those  whose  friends  had  fallen 
in  the  .battle,  was  done.  His  order  to  the  army  upon 
the  result  of  this  victory,  and  his  letter  to  Mr.  Clay, 


320      TAYLOR'S  CONGRATULATIONS  TO  HIS  ARMY. 

which  are  annexed,  exhibit  this  fine  trait  of  his  char 
acter  in  its  true  light. 

On  the  26th  of  February,  General  Taylor  issued  the 
following  order.  It  is  written  in  fine  taste.  It  alludes 
in  the  most  modest  terms  which  he  could  employ,  to 
the  brilliant  victory  which  our  troops  have  won  over 
immense  superiority  of  Mexicans,  headed  by  their  most 
distinguished  'military  leader.  It  pays  due  honor  to  the 
brave  officers  and  troops  who  live  to  receive  the  grati 
tude  of  their  country.  It  pays  a  brief  but  affecting 
tribute  to  those  gallant  spirits  who  have  gloriously  fallen 
in  the  battle,  but  whose  "  illustrious  example  will  re 
main  for  the  benefit  and  admiration  of  the  army,"  and 
as  a  monument  of  glory  in  the  eyes  of  Europe.  It 
treats  as  delicately  as  possible  all  those  inexperienced 
soldiers  who  ingloriously  fled,  to  whom  he  administers 
the  warning  lesson  of  seeking  to  retrieve  their  reputa 
tion  by  future  exertions.  It  is  impossible  to  read  the 
various  descriptions  of  this  remarkable  battle,  where  the 
skill  of  the  commanding  general  in  seizing  his  ground 
and  manoeuvring  his  troops,  vied  with  the  chivalry  of 
his  men,  without  the  deepest  emotions. 

"  1.  The  commanding  general  has  the  grateful  task 
of  congratulating  the  troops  upon  the  brilliant  success 
which  attended  their  arms  in  the  conflicts  of  the  22nd 
and  23rd.  Confident  in  the  immense  superiority  of 
numbers,  and  stimulated  by  the  presence  of  a  distin 
guished  leader,  the  Mexican  troops  were  yet  repulsed 
in  efforts  to  force  our  lines,  and  finally  withdrew  with 
immense  loss  from  the  field. 

"  2.  The  general  would  express  his  obligations  to  the 
officers  and  men  engaged,  for  the  cordial  support  which 
they  rendered  throughout  the  action.  It  will  be  hig 
highest  pride  to  bixiig  to  the  notice  of  the  government 


HIS    HUMANE    DISPOSITION. 

the  conspicuous  gallantry  of  different  officers  and  corps 
whose  unwavering  steadiness  more  than  once  saved  the 
fortunes  of  the  day.  He  would  also  express  his  high 
satisfaction  writh  the  conduct  of  the  small  command  he 
left  to  hold  Saltillo.  Though  not  so  seriously  engaged 
as  their  comrades,  their  services  wrere  very  important 
and  efficiently  rendered.  While  bestowing  this  just 
tribute  to  the  good  conduct  of  the  troops,  the  general 
deeply  regrets  to  say  that  there  were  not  a  few  excep 
tions.  He  trusts  that  those  who  fled  ingloriously  to 
Buena  Vista,  and  even  to  Saltillo,  will  seek  an  oppor 
tunity  to  retrieve  their  reputation,  and  to  emulate  the 
bravery  of  their  comrades  who  bore  the  brunt  of  the 
battle,  and  sustained,  against  fearful  odds,  the  honor  of 
our  flag. 

"  The  exultation  of  success  is  checked  by  the  heavy 
sacrifice  of  life  which  it  has  cost,  embracing  many  offi 
cers  of  high  rank  and  rare  merit.  While  the  sympa 
thies  of  a  grateful  country  will  be  given  to  the  bereaved 
families  and  friends  of  those  who  nobly  fell,  their  illus 
trious  example  will  remain  for  the  benefit  and  admira 
tion  of  the  army." 

Glorious  as  have  been  General  Taylor's  military  ex 
ploits,  they  have  reflected  less  real  honor  upon  his 
name  than  the  humanity  he  has  on  all  occasions  shown, 
as  wefl  for  his  own  soldiers  as  for  the  enemy,  and  the 
kindness  of  heart  and  remarkable  delicacy  of  feeling 
that  characterize  all  his  acts.  The  following  letter  of 
condolence  to  Mr.  Clay  on  the  death  of  his  son,  Lieu 
tenant-Colonel  Clay,  who  fell  at  Buena  Vista,  is  fraught 
with  sentiments  warm  from  the  heart,  and  is  conceived 
in  language  as  beautiful  as  it  is  feeling.  It  has  been 
as  it  deserved  to  be,  printed  in  letters  of  gold. 

MY  DEAR  SIR  : — You  will  no  doubt  have  received 


322     LETTER  OF  CONDOLENCE  TO  MR.  CLAY. 

before  this  can  reach  you,  the  deeply  distressing  intel 
ligence  of  the  death  of  your  son  in  the  battle  of  Buena 
Vista.  It  is  with  no  wish  of  intruding  upon  the  sanc 
tuary  of  parental  sorrow,  and  with  no  hope  of  adminis 
tering  any  consolation  to  your  wounded  heart,  that  1 
have  taken  the  liberty  of  addressing  you  these  few 
lines ;  but  I  have  felt  it  a  duty  which  I  owe  to  the 
memory  of  the  distinguished  dead,  to  pay  a  willing  tri 
bute  to  his  many  excellent  qualities,  and  while  my  feel 
ings  are  still  fresh,  to  express  the  desolation  which  his 
untimely  loss,  and  that  of  other  kindred  spirits,  has  oc 
casioned. 

I  had  but  a  casual  acquaintance  with  your  son, 
until  he  became  for  a  time,  a  member  of  my  military 
family,  and  I  can  truly  say  that  no  one  ever  won  more 
rapidly  upon  my  regard,  or  established  a  more  lasting 
claim  to  my  respect  and  esteem.  Manly  and  honora 
ble  in  every  impulse,  with  no  feeling  but  for  the  honoi 
of  the  service  and  of  the  country,  he  gave  every 
assurance  that  in  the  hour  of  need  I  could  lean  with 
confidence  upon  his  support.  Nor  was  I  disappointed. 
Under  the  guidance  of  himself  and  the  lamented 
McKee,  gallantly  did  the  sons  of  Kentucky,  in  the 
thickest  of  the  strife,  uphold  the  honor  of  the  state 
and  the  country. 

A  grateful  people  will  do  justice  to  the  memory  of 
those  who  fell  on  that  eventful  day.  But  I  may  be 
permitted  to  express  the  bereavement  which  I  feel  in 
the  loss  of  valued  friends.  To  your  son  I  felt  bound 
by  the  strongest  ties  of  private  regard,  and  when  I  miss 
his  familiar  face,  and  those  of  McKee  and  Hardin,  1 
can  say  with  truth,  that  I  feel  no  exultation  in  our 
success 


LETTER    TO    EX-GOVERNOR    LINCOLN.  823 

With  the  expression  of  my  deepest  and  most  heart 
felt  sympathies  for  your  irreparable  loss, 
I  remain, 

Your  friend, 

Z.  TAYLOR. 

Equally  honorable  to  the  illustrious  hero  of  Resaca 
de  la  Palma,  Monterey  and  Buena  Vista,  is  the  follow 
ing  letter  to  Ex-Governor  Lincoln,  of  Massachusetts, 
the  life  of  whose  son,  like  Colonel  Clay's,  is  part  of  the 
price  paid  by  the  country  for  the  glory  won  by  our 
arms  in  Mexico.  The  letter  to  which  this  is  an  answer, 
was  written  immediately  upon  receipt  of  the  painful 
tidings  of  the  death  of  Captain  Lincoln,  and  of  course 
before  any  certain  and  responsible  information  had 
been  received  from  officers  in  the  army. 

The  letter  is  in  the  soothing  and  delicate  strain  that 
pervades  other  similar  communications  from  the  great 
and  amiable  general,  showing,  that  while  he  has 
courage  for  a  thousand  battles,  his  noble  heart  is  more 
deeply  touched  by  the  fall  of  one  brave  and  accom 
plished  officer  than  by  all  the  triumphs  of  the  war. 

SIR  : — Your  letter  of  the  4th  ult.,  in  relation  to  the 
remains  and  effects  of  your  much  lamented  son,  Cap 
tain  George  Lincoln,  has  safely  reached  me.  I  beg 
•  leave  to  offer  my  heart-felt  sympathies  with  you  in  the 
heavy  affliction  which  has  befallen  you  in  the  death 
of  this  accomplished  gentleman.  In  his  fall,  you  have 
been  bereaved  of  a  son  of  whom  you  might  be  most 
justly  proud,  while  the  army  has  lost  one  of  its  most 
gallant  soldiers.  It  is  hoped,  however,  that  your  deep 
grief  will  be  assuaged  in  some  degree  in  the  proud  re 
flection  that  he  fell  nobly  upon  the  field  of  battle,  while 
gallantly  discharging  the  duties  of  his  profession. 


324  HIS    CARE    FOR    THE    SLAIN. 

I  learn  upon  inquiry  that  the  body  of  your  son 
was  carefully  removed  from  the  field,  immediately 
after  his  death,  and  that  it  was  decently  interred  by 
itself.  Its  identity  is  therefore  a  matter  of  certainty. 
His  effects  are  understood  to  have  been  collected  with 
due  care,  and  are  now  under  the  direction  of  General 
Wool. 

I  shall  take  an  early  occasion  to  convey  your 
wishes  on  this  subject  to  that  officer,  with  the  request 
that  he  will  be  kind  enough  to  put  the  remains  and 
effects,  carefully  prepared  for  transportation,  en  route 
for  New  York  or  Boston,  by  the  first  safe  opportunity, 
and  that  he  give  you,  at  the  same  time,  due  notice 
thereof 

•I  am,  Sir,  with  great  respect, 

Your  ob't  serv't, 

Z.  TAYLOR. 

Everything  that  serves  to  throw  any  light  upon  the 
character  and  opinions  of  a  man  whose  name  has 
recently  been  rendered  illustrious  by  deeds  which  find 
few  parallels  in  the  history  of  the  world,  or  that  relates 
to  any  of  his  military  achievements,  will  be  read  with 
avidity  by  the  American  people.  With  this  view,  the 
following  private  letter  to  a  friend  in  Louisiana  is  given. 
It  will  be  perceived  that  he  refers  to  the  movement 
of  the  people  in  various  parts  of  the  country  in  favor 
of  his  nomination  for  the  presidency,  with  the  delicacy 
of  a  truly  great  mind,  and  also  relates  some  of  the 
events  of  the  battle  of  Buena  Vista,  that  have  not  pre 
viously  been  dwelt  upon.  He  does  not  profess,  how 
ever,  to  give  a  minute  description  of  the  battle ;  but  he 
presents  in  a  clearer  and  more  authentic  shape,  the 
grandeur  of  the  resistance  made  to  the  overwhelming 


AX    INTERESTING    PRIVATE    LETTER.  325 

forces  of  the  enemy,  and  the  vastness  of  the  responsi 
bility  assumed  in  giving  and  maintaining  the  battle. 
Stripped  of  his  most  effective  men,  surrounded  by 
armies  four  times  larger  than  his  own,  and  in  the  heart 
of  the  enemy's  country,  the  gallant  old  soldier  main 
tained  his  ground  and  obtained  a  victory  when  even 
his  own  officers  counselled  a  retreat.  It  is  dated  at 
Agua  Nueva,  on  the  4th  of  March,  eight  days  after  his 
decisive  victory  over  the  Mexican  legions : 

MY  DEAR  GENERAL  : — Your  very  acceptable  and 
interesting  letter  of  the  15th  November  last,  reached 
me  on  the  24th  of  December,  while  on  the  march  from 
Monterey  to  Tampico ;  but  the  n?'.are  of  my  duties 
since  then  (being  most  of  the  time  in  the  saddle,)  in 
addition  to  other  matters,  has  prevented  me  from 
replying  to  it  till  the  present  moment.  Be  assured,  my 
dear  sir,  I  have  not  since  then  lost  sight  of  it  or  your 
self;  and  I  feel  highly  gratified  for  the  flattering  man 
ner  in  which  you  have  noticed  the  conduct  of  the  offi 
cers  and  soldiers  who  marched  with  me  from  the  Rio 
Grande  to  Monterey,  and  compelled  that  place  to  sur 
render  after  much  hard  fighting,  as  they  fully  merited 
the  handsome  encomiums  you  have  thought  proper  to 
bestow  on  them.  For  this  you  have  my  sincere  thanks. 

I  was  aware  of  the  report,  as  well  as  statements  in  a 
few  of  the  public  journals,  that  it  was  intended  by 
certain  individuals  to  bring  General  Butler  forward  as 
the  successor  to  Mr.  Polk,  which  gave  me  no  concern, 
and  wTould  not,  even  had  it  been  the  case,  which  I  did 
not  credit,  and  which  had  been  forgotten.  I  doubt  if 
the  subject  would  have  again  crossed  my  mind,  had  it 
not  been  brought  to  my  notice  by  you  or  some  one 
else.  I  have  never  heard  him  or  his  friends  allude  to 
this  matter.  He  (the  general),  in  consequence  of  his 


320  REFERENCE    TO    THE    PRESIDENCY. 

wound  not  healing,  which  gave  him  so  much  pain  as  to 
render  him  unfit  for  duty,  left  a  short  time  since,  by 
advice  of  his  medical  attendant,  for  New  Orleans, 
where  I  hope  he  has  arrived  in  safety,  and  where  I 
truly  hope  he  will  very  soon  recover  so  as  to  be  able  to 
take  the  field  once  more. 

I  may  observe  that  I  have  been  also  named  as  a 
candidate  for  that  high  office,  the  presidency,  by  a  few 
newspaper  editors  and  others,  which  has  been  done 
without  my  knowledge,  wishes,  or  consent.  This  I 
have  assured  all  who  have  written  me  on  the  subject ; 
assuring  them  I  had  no  aspirations  for  that  or  any 
other  civil  office ;  "hat  my  \vhole  energies,  mental  and 
physical,  wrere,  and  haJ  been  absorbed  in  such  a  way 
as  I  thought  best  calculated  to  bring  this  war  to  a 
speedy  and  honorable  close,  believing  it  was  for  the 
interest  of  both  countries — at  ajiy  rate  so  far  as  ours 
was  concerned ;  and  that  president  making  should  be 
lost  sight  of  until  this  was  accomplished. 

I  retraced  my  steps  to  Monterey,  where  I  arrived 
towards  the  latter  part  of  the  month  of  January,  and 
where  I  expected  to  remain  some  time  to  recruit  my 
self  and  horses ;  but  a  few  days  after  my  arrival  I 
received  information  from  the  command  in  my  front, 
at  Saltillo,  sixty-five  miles  in  the  direction  of  San  Luis 
Potosi  from  Monterey,  that  the  command — between 
four  and  five  thousand  strong — under  General  Wool, 
had  become  very  much  alarmed  in  consequence  of 
about  one  hundred  picked  men  and  horses,  belonging 
to  the  Kentucky  and  Arkansas  regiments  of  mounted 
men,  who  were  sent  out  towards  San  Luis  to  gain 
intelligence  respecting  the  enemy,  and  watch  their  move 
ments,  having  been  taken ;  being  surrounded  in  the 
night,  and  all  made  prisoners,  by  a  large  force  of  cav- 


REASONS  FOR  LEAVING  AGUA  NUEVA.      327 

airy,  about  fifty  miles  in  advance  of  Saltillo.  So  said 
one  of  the  party  who  succeeded  in  making  his  escape 
the  next  night,  ana  getting  back  to  Saltillo ;  also  that 
the  Mexican  army  was  advancing  in  great  numbers 
towards  Saltillo. 

These  reports  induced  me  to  join  my  advance  imme 
diately.  Leaving  Monterey  on  the  31st  January,  I 
reached  Saltillo  on  the  morning  of  the  2nd  February, 
with  a  small  reinforcement,  which  increased  my  force 
to  five  thousand,  when  I  lost  no  time  in  moving  for 
ward  and  establishing  a  camp  at  this  place,  for  the  pur 
pose  of  carrying  on  a  system  of  instruction,  as  wrell  as 
to  watch  the  movements  of  the  enemy,  and  where  I 
expected  to  fight  him  should  he  move  on  Saltillo.  Here 
I  remained  until  the  21st,  examining  the  several  passes 
through  the  mountains — at  which  time  I  ascertained 
that  General  Santa  Anna  was  advancing  and  near  to 
hand  with  an  overwhelming  force. 

Not  exactly  liking  my  position,  having  ascertained 
that  he  could  gain  my  rear  by  two  roads  on  my  right 
and  one  on  my  left,  and  not  deeming  it  prudent  to 
divide  my  forces,  and  having  apprehensions  about  my 
supplies,  which  were  in  Saltillo,  I  determined  at  once 
to  fall  back  towards  that  place  about  twelve  miles,  and 
occupy  a  strong  posilion  between  two  spurs  of  a  moun 
tain  with  a  narrow  valley  between  them,  where  at  one 
point  the  road  is  so  narrow  as  to  permit  the  passage  of 
only  one  wagon  at  a  time,  with  deep  gullies  running 
up  to  the  mountains,  washed  by  the  rains  so  as  to  pre 
vent  horses  or  carriages  from  passing  them  without 
great  difficulty.  Said  position  had  been  closely  exam 
ined  by  the  topographical  engineers,  under  the  eye  of 
General  Wool,  before  my  arrival,  who  deemed  it  admi 
rably  adapted  to  resist  a  large  army  with  the  small 


328  THE  ATTACK. 

force  which  composed  our  strength.  We  therefore  fell 
back  and  occupied  it  on  the  evening  of  the  21st,  and  at 
once  made  the  necessary  preparations  for  giving  battle. 

The  next  day  the  enemy  made?  his  appearance  early 
in  the  day,  and,  after  reconnoitring  our  position  for 
some  time,  at  2  o'clock,  P.  M.,  I  received  by  a  staff  offi 
cer  with  a  flag,  a  communication  from  General  Santa 
Anna,  requiring  me  to  surrender  at  discretion ;  stating 
that  in  the  event  of  my  doing  so  we  should  be  weh 
treated ;  that  he  had  surrounded  me  with  more  than 
twenty  thousand  men ;  that  resistance  wras  out  of  the 
question — and  if  I  attempted  it,  my  command  would 
be  put  to  rout  and  must  be  destroyed.  In  reply,  1 
stated  I  could  not  comply  with  his  demand,  and  he  was 
at  liberty  to  commence  operations  whenever  he  was 
inclined  to  do  so.  Soon  after  this,  the  action  was  com 
menced  with  his  skirmishers  on  our  left,  which  was 
promptly  met  by  our  left,  and  continued  without  inter 
mission,  on  the  side  of  the  mountain,  until  dark. 

In  the  morning  at  sunrise  he  renewed  the  contest 

O 

with  an  overwhelming  force — with  artillery,  infantry 
and  dragoons — which  lasted  with  slight  intermissions 
until  dark.  A  portion  of  the  time  the  conflict  was 
much  the  severest  I  have  ever  witnessed,  particularly 
towards  the  latter  part  of  the  day,  when  he  (Santa 
Anna)  brought  up  his  reserve,  and  in  spite  of  every 
effort  on  our  part,  after  the  greatest  exertions  I  have 
ever  witnessed  on  both  sides,  drove  us  by  an  immense 
superiority  of  numbers  for  some  distance.  He  had  at 
least  five  to  one  at  that  point  against  us.  Fortunately, 
at  the  most  critical  moment,  two  pieces  of  artillery 
which  I  had  ordered  up  to  support  that  part  of  our  line, 
met  our  exhausted  men  retreating,  when  they  were 
brought  into  battery  and  opened  on  the  enemy,  then 


A    CRITICAL    MOMENT.  329 

within  fifty  yards  in  hot  pursuit,  with  canister  and 
grape,  which  brought  him  to  a  halt  and  soon  compelled 
him  to  fall  back.  In  this  tremendous  contest  we  lost 
three  pieces  of  artillery,  nearly  all  the  men  having  been 
killed  or  crippled,  which  put  it  out  of  our  power  to 
bring  them  off;  nor  did  I  deem  it  advisable  to  attempt 
to  regain  them. 

The  enemy  made  his  principal  efforts  against  our 
flanks.  He  was  handsomely  repulsed  on  our  right, 
but  succeeded  early  in  the  day  in  gaining  our  left,  in 
consequence  of  the  giving  way  of  one  of  the  volunteer 
regiments,  which  could  not  be  rallied,  with  but  few 
exceptions,  the  greater  portion  retiring  about  a  mile  to 
a  large  rancho  or  farm-house,  where  our  wagons  and  a 
portion  of  our  stores  were  left.  These  were  soon  after 
attacked  by  the  enemy's  cavalry,  who  were  repulsed 
with  some  loss. 

For  several  hours  the  fate  of  the  day  was  extremely 
doubtful ;  so  much  so  that  I  was  urged  by  some  of  the 
most  experienced  officers  to  fall  back  and  take  a  new 
position.  This  I  knew  it  would  never  do  to  attempt 
with  volunteers,  and  at  once  declined  it.  The  scene 
had  now  become  one  of  the  deepest  interest.  Between 
the  several  deep  ravines,  there  were  portions  of  level 
land  from  one  to  four  hundred  yards  in  extent,  which 
became  alternately  points  of  attack  and  defence,  after 
our  left  was  turned,  by  both  sides.  These  extended 
along  and  near  the  base  of  the  mountain  for  about  two 
miles,  and  the  struggle  for  them  may  be  very  appro- 
priately  compared  to  a  game  of  chess.  Night  put  a 
stop  to  the  contest,  and  strange  to  say,  both  armies 
occupied  the  same  positions  they  did  in  the  morning 
before  the  battle  commenced.  Our  artillery  did  more 
than  wonders. 


23 


330  T;IE  ENEMY  RETREAT. 

We  lay  on  our  arms  all  night,  as  we  had  done  Oe 
two  previous  ones,  without  fires,  there  being  no  WG  >d 
to  be  had,  and  the  mercury  below  the  freezing  pci-it, 
ready  and  expecting  to  renew  the  contest  the  next 
morning ;  but  we  i'ound  at  daylight  the  enemy  had 
retreated  during  the  night,  leaving  his  killed  and  r*-any 
of  his  wounded  for  us  to  bury  and  take  care  of — c:  fry 
ing  off  everything  else,  and  taking  up  a  position  a!  this 
place.  We  did  not  think  it  advisable  to  pursue,  not 
knowing  whether  he  would  renew  the  attack,  con.inue 
his  retreat,  or  wished  to  draw  us  from  our  strong  posi 
tion  ;  but  contented  ourselves  with  watching  his  i  ;ove- 
ments  closely.  Finding,  on  the  26th,  he  had  renewed 
his  retreat,  early  in  the  morning  of  the  27th  the  army 
was  put  in  motion  for  this  place,  where  we  arrived 
about  3  r.  M.,  their  rear-guard,  consisting  of  cavalry, 
leaving  as  our  advance  got  in  sight. 

I  at  once  determined  on  harassing  his  rear ;  but  on 
examining  the  state  of  the  men  and  horses,  I  found 
that  five  days  and  nights  marching,  incessant  watching, 
and  sixteen  hours  hard  fighting,  had  so  exhausted  the 
first  and  broken  down  the  latter,  it  was  next  to  impossi 
ble  to  accomplish  anything  without  rest.  We  remained 
quiet  here  until  the  2nd  instant,  when  I  pushed  a  com 
mand  on  the  San  Luis  road  to  a  large  plantation  called 
Encarnacion,  where  we  found  between  two  and  three 
hundred  wounded  in  the  most  wretched  condition, 
besides  those  they  carried  with  them  and  left  here  and 
on  the  field.  Here  we  took  about  ten  prisoners,  the 
main  part  of  their  army  having  proceeded  on  in  the 
direction  of  San  Luis  in  a  very  disorganized  condition. 

On  the  22nd  the  enemy  threw  in  our  rear,  through 
the  passes  of  the  mountains,  two  thousand  cavalry, 
and  early  in  the  morning  of  the  next  day,  the  23rd, 


A    REASONABLE    HOPE.  331 

made  demonstrations  against  Saltillo,  and  throughout 
the  day.  They  succeeded  at  one  time  in  cutting  off 
the  communication  between  the  city  and  battle  ground, 
and  making  several  prisoners,  but  were  driven  away 
by  the  officer  commanding  in  the  city,  with  two  pieces 
of  artillery,  covered  by  about  sixty  men.  They,  how 
ever,  while  in  possession  of  the  road,  prevented  a  good 
many  from  running  off  to  the  city,  to  which  place 
about  two  hundred  of  our  men  had  succeeded  in  get 
ting,  previously  to  the  cavalry  occupying  the  road — 
they,  the  runaways,  reporting  that  our  army  was 
beaten  and  in  full  retreat. 

The  loss  on  both  sides  was  very  great,  as  you  may 
suppose — enough  so  on  ours  to  cover  the  whole  country 
with  mourning,  for  some  of  the  noblest  and  purest  of 
the  land  have  fallen.  We  had  two  hundred  and  forty 
killed  and  five  hundred  wounded.  The  enemy  has 
suffered  in  still  greater  numbers,  but  as  the  dead  and 
wounded  are  scattered  all  over  the  country,  it  is  diffi 
cult  to  ascertain  their  number.  The  prisoners  who 
have  fallen  into  our  hands,  between  two  and  three 
hundred — enough  to  exchange  for  all  that  have  been 
taken  from  us, — as  well  as  some  medical  officers  left 
behind  to  take  care  of  the  wounded,  say  that  their 
killed  and  wounded  is  not  less  than  fifteen  hundred, 
and  they  say  perhaps  more. 

I  hope  the  greater  portion  of  the  good  people  of  the 
country  will  be  satisfied  with  what  we  have  done  on 
this  occasion.  I  flatter  myself  that  our  compelling  a 
Mexican  army  of  more  than  twenty  thousand  men, 
completely  organized  and  led  by  their  chief  magistrate, 
to  retreat,  with  less  than  five  hundred  regulars  and 
about  four  thousand  volunteers,  will  meet  their  appro- 


332  THEIR    ARMY    ROUTED. 

val.     I  had  not  a  single  company  of  regular  infantry ; 
the  whole  was  taken  from  me. 

I  was  truly  gratified  to  learn  that  the  chief  magis 
trate  of  your  state  had  conferred  on  you  the  rank 
of  brigadier-general  of  the  militia,  and  had  hoped  that 
the  President  of  the  United  States  would  have  called 
you  into  service  as  such  with  the  new  regiments,  and 
hope  he  may  yet  do  so,  as  I  need  hardly  repeat  the 
pleasure  it  would  give  me  to  be  associated  with  you  in 
carrying  on  this  war.  The  road  to  the  city  of  Mexico 
from  here  is  now  open,  and  we  only  want  a  few  thou 
sand  regulars,  in  addition  to  the  volunteers,  to  enable 
us  to  reach  that  place..  What  effect  our  late  battle 
will  have  on  Santa  Anna  and  the  Mexican  Congress, 
time  must  determine ;  but  I  sincerely  hope  it  will  lead 
to  peace.  One  thing  is  certain  ;  their  principal  army 
has  become  demolished,  and  it  will  be  very  difficult  for 
them  to  raise  and  equip  another. 

I  much  fear  I  have  spun  out  this  long,  and  to  you 
uninteresting  epistle,  beyond  your  patience  even  to 
wade  through  it ;  but  I  have  the  consolation  to  know 
that  you  are  not  compelled  to  read  the  whole  or  any 
part  of  it.  I  will  conclude  by  desiring  you  to  present 
me  most  respectfully  to  your  excellent  lady,  as  well  as 
to  my  friend  Colonel  Nicholas,  and  accept  my  sincere 
wishes  for  the  continued  health  and  prosperity  of  you 
and  yours  through  a  long  life. 

With  respect  and  esteem, 

Your  friend, 

Z.  TAYLOR. 

The  loss  of  officers  in  General  Taylor's  gallant 
division,  in  the  battle  of  Buena  Vista,  sixty-five  in 
number,  exhibits  a  proportion  and  result  unparalleled 


SKETCH    OF    MARTYRS    AT    BUENA    VISTA.  333 

in  any  battle  on  record,  which  we  can  now  call  to 
mind.  General  Taylor's  effective  force  was  about  five 
thousand  rank  and  file  ;  and  allowing  one  commissioned 
officer  to  twenty  men,  the  startling  conclusion  is  arrived 
at,  that  our  loss  of  commissioned  officers  in  this  san 
guinary  engagement,  amounted  to  one-fourth  of  the 
whole  number  on  the  field.  If  the  loss  of  the  rank 
and  file  had  been  proportioned  to  that  of  officers,  it 
would  exceed  one  thousand  two  hundred  men.  This 
immense  loss  of  officers  indicates  the  most  chivalrous 
daring  on  their  part.  Colonel  Clay  was  a  graduate  at 
West  Point,  where  he  distinguished  himself  by  every 
quality  demanded  by  his  profession.  He  was  about 
forty  years  of  age ;  and  was  in  every  way  worthy  the 
glorious  stock  from  which  he  sprung.  Accomplished, 
gentle,  generous,  and  brave,  he  added  to  those  merits 
the  highest  moral  qualities,  and  was  regarded  by  all 
who  knew  him  with  esteem,  and  by  his  relatives  and 
friends  with  the  warmest  and  proudest  affection. 

Colonel  J.  J.  Hardin  was  a  nephew  of  Henry  Clay, 
and  known  throughout  the  nation  as  an  active  and  able 
member  of  Congress,  from  Illinois.  He  declined  a 
re-election  from  a  desire  to  join  the  armies  of  his  coun 
try  ;  and  whether  as  a  civilian  or  a  soldier,  won,  by  his 
noble  qualities,  the  confidence  and  esteem  of  all  parties. 
Colonel  Yell  was  also  a  member  of  Congress,  repre 
senting  Arkansas.  He  was  a  true  patriot,  and  resigned 
his  seat  for  the  higher  privilege  of  fighting  the  battles 
of  his  country.  His  letters  from  the  seat  of  war  have 
excited  much  attention.  Colonel  McKee,  commanding 
the  regiment  to  which  Mr.  Clay  was  attached,  was 
extensively  connected  and  highly  esteemed  in  Ken 
tucky.  His  loss  will  be  generally  lamented  in  the 
west,  where  he  was  justly  cherished.  Captain  Lincoln, 


334  APPEARANCE    OF    THE    ENEMY. 

of  Massachusetts,  was  of  the  regular  army,  and  acted 
in  the  staff  of  General  Wool  at  the  time  of  his  death. 
He  was  breveted  for  his  courage  and  conduct  at 
Resaca  de  la  Palma,  and  was  an  officer  of  great  daring 
and  merit.  He  was  with  Taylor  in  his  successful 
charge  upon  the  Mexicans  after  the  force  of  General 
Wool  had  been  thrown  into  confusion  ;  and  was  slain 
by  a  spent  ball. 

A  writer  from  Saltillo  describes  the  following  scene  : 
The  first  view  that  we  caught  of  the  enemy  was  when 
they  had  turned  the  left  flank  of  our  lines,  and  were 
pursuing  the  flying  infantry  and  horsemen.  Column 
after  column  succeeded  until  they  formed  a  dense  mass, 
numbering  something  like  twelve  thousand  men.  No 
words  can  convey  to  you  even  a  faint  idea  of  their 
imposing  appearance.  Their  arms,  brilliantly  burnish 
ed,  reflected  a  million  of  times  the  dazzling  rays  of  the 
sun — their  rich  and  gaudy  uniforms  stood  out  in  bold 
relief  against  the  soiled  and  tattered  garments  of  the 
"suffering  volunteers" — their  lancers,  drawn  up  in 
beautiful  style,  numbering  from  two  to  three  thousand, 
and  in  lines,  the  beauty  of  which  the  most  accurate 
military  observer  could  have  found  no  fault  with  ;  and, 
added  to  this,  that  they  were,  for  the  time,  victors,  I 
assure  you  we  did  not.  look  upon  them  with  contempt. 
But  when  the  quick,  sharp  ringing  of  our  rifles  sounded 
the  death-knell  of  score  after  score  of  them,  three  hearty 
Mississippi  cheers  told  full  well  that  no  cowardly  fear 
paralyzed  that  little  band.  Rushing  on,  our  small 
force  would  have  scattered  the  retreating  foe  in  all 
directions  over  the  death-strewn  field,  had  not  our 
watchful  leader,  Colonel  Davis,  perceived  that  we  were 
about  to  be  surrounded  by  an  overpowering  force,  and 
ordered  us  to  retire  and  rally. 


INSTANCES    OF    TAYLOtt's    HUMANITY.  335 

Here  an  amusing  circumstance  took  place.  Major 
Bradford — who  is  probably  the  most  impetuously  brave 
officer  who  ever  drew  a  sword — perceived  us  retiring, 
and  thought  we  were  defeated.  He  dismounted  from 
his  horse  and  followed  on  slowly  after  us,  exclaiming — 
" Shoot  me  !  Shoot  me!"  Some  one  called  out — 

"  What  the  d — 1's  the  matter,  major  ?" 

"Ah,  kill  me!  The  Mississippi  regiment  has  run, 
and  I  don't  want  to  live  another  minute  !" 

But  the  gallant  major  was  quickly  undeceived,  for 
vve  soon  re-formed,  and  although  our  ranks  were  terri 
bly  thinned  by  the  killed  and  wounded,  yet  again  was 
heard  the  deep  voice  of  the  noble  Davis,  "  Forward ! 
Guide  centre  !  March  /"  The  command  was  repeated 
by  fifty  voices,  and  with  more  steadiness  and  precision 
than  the  careless  fellows  were  ever  known  to  evince 
on  a  drill,  they  returned  to  the  bloody  contest. 

What  a  contrast  the  humane  conduct  of  General 
Taylor  presents,  when  compared  with  the  bloody  atro 
cities  of  the  Mexicans.  His  kindness  to  the  wounded 
among  his  enemies,  is  equal  to  that  which  he  mani 
fested  towards  his  soldiers.  It  occurred  that  a  body 
of  Mexican  infantry,  about  a  thousand  strong,  had 
become  detached  from  Santa  Anna's  army,  and  were 
being  mowed  down  with  terrible  slaughter.  General 
Taylor  sent  Mr.  Crittenden  with  a  flag,  to  say  to  them 
if  they  would  surrender  he  would  stop  killing  them. 
When  Mr.  Crittenden  got  among  them,  he  was  taken 
by  them  to  Santa  Anna  with  his  eyes  blindfolded. 
This  he  remonstrated  against  without  effect.  When 
he  was  brought  to  Santa  Anna,  he  was  asked  his  mis 
sion.  He  said  he  had  no  message  for  him ;  that  he 
ser.t  to  a  i  a  deiached  <brce  to  surrender,  to  save 


336  THE    HORRORS    OF    WAR. 

the  effusion  of  blood,  and  as  his  errand  was  unsuccess 
ful,  he  demanded  to  be  sent  back  to  his  general. 

As  an  instance  of  the  desperation  with  which  both 
armies  fought,  Mr.  Crittenden,  when  asked  whether1 
the  Mexicans  had  taken  three  pieces  of  ordnance  from 
us,  as  Santa  Anna  reported,  replied  in  the  affirmative ; 
and  said  that  the  guns  were  not  given  up  until  every 
man  at  them  was  shot  down,  and  every  horse  killed 
near  them ;  and,  moreover,  that  in  bearing  them  off, 
the  Mexicans  suffered  a  loss  of  some  six  hundred  men. 
They  interfered  madly  between  the  retreating  guns  and 
our  men,  seeking  to  regain  them.  These  guns  were  a 
part  of  Captain  Washington's  battery,  under  the  com 
mand  of  Lieutenant  O'Brien.  Lieutenant  O'Brien 
was  wounded  before  his  guns  were  taken,  and,  when 
reporting  his  loss  to  General  Taylor,  was  complimented 
for  his  bravery — it  was  no  fault  of  his.  Captain  Wash 
ington  was  in  another  part  of  the  field,  and  sustained 
himself  with  great  coolness  and  intelligence,  as  did 
Captains  Bragg  and  Sherman,  with  their  respective 
batteries — in  all  but  fourteen  guns. 

After  the  battle,  says  an  eye-witness,  I  rode  over  the 
whole  field.  Parties  were  engaged  in  burying  the 
dead — but  there  were  still  hundreds  of  bodies  lying 
stiff  and  cold,  with  no  covering  save  the  scanty  rem 
nant  of  clothing  which  the  robbers  of  the  dead  found 
too  valueless  to  take  from  them.  I  saw  the  human 
body  pierced  in  every  place.  I  saw  expressed  in  the 
faces  of  the  dead  almost  every  expression  and  feeling. 
Some  seemed  to  have  died  execrating  their  enemies, 
and  cursing  them  with  their  last  breath — others  had 
the  most  placid  and  resigned  expression  and  feeling. 
Some  seemed  to  have  died  defending  their  lives  bravely 
to  the  last,  while  others  evidently  used  their  last  words 


AN    AFFECTING    SPECTACLE.  337 

in  supplicating  for  mercy.  Here  lay  youth  and  mature 
age  calmly  reposing  in  untimely  death. 

Passing  on  from  this  part  of  the  bloody  ground,  I 
went  over  to  the  plain  literally  covered  with  the  dead 
bodies  of  those  who  had  so  recently  been  our  foes. 
This  scene  was  horrible  enough,  God  knows — but  was 
divested  of  some  of  its  horrors  by  the  fact,  that  not 
one  of  the  Mexican  soldiers  was  either  robbed  or  strip 
ped  of  his  clothing,  nor  was  there  the  least  appearance 
of  the  bodies  having  been  abused  after  having  been 
wounded.  This,  indeed,  speaks  much  for  the  "  barba 
rous  volunteers  of  the  United  States  of  the  North/'  as 
the  Mexicans  style  us. 

Among  the  hundreds  of  dead  whom  I  saw  there,  I 
was  much  touched  by  the  appearance  of  the  corpse  of 
a  Mexican  boy,  whose  age  I  should  think,  could  not 
have  exceeded  fifteen  years.  A  bullet  had  struck  him 
full  in  the  breast,  and  must  have  occasioned  almost 
instant  death.  He  was  lying  on  his  back,  his  face 
slightly  inclined  to  one  side,  and  although  cold,  yet 
beaming  with  a  bright  and  sunny  smile,  which  elo 
quently  told  the  spectator  that  he  had  fallen  with  his 
face  to  his  country's  foe.  Saltillo  is  one  vast  hospital. 
Besides  our  own  wounded,  (four  or  five  hundred  in 
number,)  General  Taylor  has  collected  all  the  wounded 
Mexicans  who  were  left  by  their  army,  and  put  them  in 
the  hospital. 

Lieutenant  Corwine  gives  the  following  interesting 
sketch  of  General  Taylor  on  the  battle  field  of  Buena 
Vista :  By  way  of  illustrating  an  important  character 
istic  of  General  Taylor,  to  wit,  determination,  I  will 
briefly  relate  a  scene  that  occurred  on  the  battle  ground 
of  Buena  Vista,  during  the  action  of  the  23d.  At  the 
time  when  the  fortunes  of  the  day  seemed  extremely 


338  TAYLOR    ON    THE    BATTLE    FIELD. 

problematical — when  many  on  our  side  even  despaired 
of  success — old  Rough  and  Ready,  as  he  is  not  inaptly 
styled,  whom  you  must  know,  by-the-bye,  is  short,  fat 
and  dumpy  in  person,  with  remarkably  short  legs — 
took  his  position  on  a  commanding  height,  overlooking 
the  two  armies.  This  was  about  three,  or  perhaps 
four  o'clock  in  the  afternoon.  The  enemy,  who  had 
succeeded  in  gaining  an  advantageous  position,  made 
a  fierce  charge  upon  our  column,  and  fought  with  a 
desperation  that  seemed  for  a  time  to  insure  success  to 
their  arms.  The  struggle  lasted  for  some  time.  All 
the  while,  General  Taylor  was  a  silent  spectator,  his 
countenance  exhibiting  the  most  anxious  solicitude, 
alternating  between  hope  and  despondency.  His  staff, 
perceiving  his  perilous  situation,  (for  he  was  exposed 
to  the  fire  of  the  enemy,)  approached  him  and  implored 
him  to  retire.  He  heeded  them  not.  His  thoughts 
were  intent  upon  victory  or  defeat.  He  knew  not 
at  that  moment  what  the  result  would  be.  He  felt  that 
that  engagement  was  to  decide  his  fate.  He  had  given 
all  his  orders,  and  selected  his  position.  If  the  day 
went  against  him,  he  \\  as  irretrievably  lost ;  if  for  him, 
he  could  rejoice  in  common  with  his  countrymen,  at 
the  triumphant  success  of  our  arms. 

Such  seemed  to  be  his  thoughts — his  determination. 
And  when  he  saw  the  enemy  give  way,  and  retreat  in 
the  utmost  confusion,  he  gave  vent  to  his  pent  up  feel 
ings.  His  right  leg  was  quickly  disengaged  from  the 
pommel  of  the  saddle,  where  it  had  remained  during 
the  whole  of  the  fierce  encounter — his  arms,  which 
were  calmly  folded  over  his  breast,  relaxed  their  hold 
— his  feet  fairly  danced  in  the  stirrups,  and  his  whole 
body  was  in  motion.  It  was  a  .moment  of  the  most 
intense  interest.  His  face  was  suffused  with  tears. 


ARRIVAL    OF    MEXICAN    DISPATCHES.  339 

The  day  was  won — the  victory  complete — his  little 
army  saved  from  the  disgrace  of  a  defeat,  and  he  could 
not  refrain  from  weeping  for  joy  at  what  had  seemed 
to  so  many,  but  a  moment  before,  as  an  impossible 
result.  Long  may  the  noble  and  kind-hearted  old  hero 
live  to  enjoy  the  honors  of  his  numerous  brilliant  vic 
tories,  and  many  other  honors  that  a  grateful  country 
will  ere  long  bestow  upon  him. 

After  the  battle  of  Buena  Vista,  many  of  the  Mexi 
cans  who  were  taken  prisoners  stated  that  they  had  not 
eaten  anything  for  three  days  previous  to  the  battle ; 
that  the  army  of  Santa  Anna  was  in  a  state  of  utter 
destitution ;  and  that  unless  he  could  get  supplies  in 
four  days,  his  army  would  disband,  or  that  they  must 
inevitably  starve.  Paymaster  J.  B.  Butler  says : 
"  General  Santa  Anna  is  really  to  be  pitied.  His  men 
are  a  wretched  set.  He  had  twice,  during  the  battle, 
to  interpose  his  lancers  to  prevent  desertion,  and  they 
shot  down  some  fifty  at  each  time,  before  he  could  pre 
vent  the  flight  of  his  infantry.  The  information  comes 
from  prisoners  who  deserted  as  soon  as  exchanged,  and 
came  into  General  Taylor's  camp.  They  report  that 
Santa  Anna  is  destitute  of  all  kinds  of  provisions,  and 
that  he  cannot  keep  them  together." 

It  may  be  recollected  that  some  time  since  a  corres- 
pondent  at  Saltillo,  informed  us  of  a  great  excitement, 
occasioned  there  by  the  arrival  of  two  Mexican  officers 
from  San  Luis,  with  dispatches  to  General  Taylor. 
They  were  supposed  to  be  propositions  for  peace,  but 
turned  out  to  be  solemn  inquiries  whether  it  was  the 
general's  intention  "  to  conduct  the  war  according  to 
the  manner  adopted  by  the  Camanches."  The  wrath 
of  General  Taylor  at  this  preposterous  insolence  of  the 
Mexicans  was  described  as  ludicrous,  but  we  have 


340  GENERAL    TAYLORS    REPLY. 

never  seen  his  reply  till  now.  In  the  Mexican  papers 
lately  received  the  whole  correspondence  is  given  in 
Spanish.  The  letter  to  General  Taylor  was  from 
General  Moray  Villamil,  and  dated  the  10th  of  May. 
The  letter  is  long,  and  we  have  no  idea  of  translating 
it,  and  the  impudence  of  it  was  not  a  whit  exaggerated. 
The  nature  of  it  will  be  sufficiently  disclosed  by  Gene 
ral  Taylor's  reply,  which  we  translate,  although  we 
feel  what  injustice  his  terse  and  manly  style  will  suffer 
by  the  double  translation.  The  letter  is  said  to  be 
dated  : 

HEADQUARTERS,  NEAR  MONTEREY,         ) 
May  19,  1847.  J 

SIR — I  received  yesterday  your  communication  of 
the  20th  instant,  which  informs  me  that  you  are  in 
structed  by  the  President  Substitute  of  the  Republic  to 
address  me,  with  a  view  to  demand  from  me  a  catego 
rical  reply — "  whether  my  wishes  and  my  instructions 
are  to  prosecute  the  war  in  conformity  to  the  laws  of 
nations,  and  as  war  is  conducted  by  civilized  countries, 
or  as  barbarous  tribes  carrying  it  on  among  themselves, 
it  being  understood,  that  Mexico  is  disposed  and  re 
solved  to  accept  the  manner  which  is  proposed  or  car 
ried  out,  and  awaits  the  result  in  order  to  dictate  its 
measures  accordingly." 

If  these  instructions  were  not  communicated  to  me 
through  an  authority  as  highly  respectable  as  yourself, 
I  should  refuse  to  believe  they  emanated  from  the 
Chief  Magistrate  of  the  Republic,  containing,  as  in 
fact  they  do  contain,  in  my  judgment,  an  implied  but 
not  less  deliberate  insult  towards  me  and  towards  the 
government  which  I  have  the  honor  to  represent. 
Viewing  them  in  this  light,  I  shall  decline  giving  the 
categorical  reply  which  is  demanded  of  me,  which  I 


GENERAL  TAYLOR's  REPLY.  341 

do  with  the  respect  due  to  his  Excellency  the  Pres 
ident. 

As  you  have  thought  fit  to  communicate  to  me  the 
instructions  of  your  government  at  some  length,  upon 
the  manner  in  which  the  war  has  been  carried  on  upon 
my  part,  I  improve  this  opportunity  to  make  some 
remarks  upon  the  subject. 

The  outrages  to  which  especial  reference  is  made, 
came  to  my  knowledge  after  they  had  been  perpetrated, 
and  I  can  assure  you  that  neither  yourself  nor  the 
President  of  the  Republic  can  have  felt  deeper  pain, 
than  that  which  I  felt  on  the  occasion.  All  the  means 
at  my  disposal,  within  the  limits  of  our  laws,  were 
employed,  but  in  the  greater  number  of  cases  fruitlessly, 
to  identify  and  punish  the  delinquents.  I  cannot  sup 
pose  that  you  have  been  so  ill-informed,  as  to  believe 
that  such  atrocities  were  committed  by  my  connivance, 
order,  or  consent,  or  that  they,  by  themselves,  give  an 
idea  of  the  manner  in  which  the  war  has  been  prose 
cuted  in  this  part  of  Mexico.  They  were  in  truth 
unfortunate  exceptions,  caused  by  circumstances  which 
I  could  not  control. 

It  appears  to  me  in  point,  to  inform  you,  that  from 
the  moment  the  American  army  set  foot  upon  the  ter 
ritory  of  Mexico,  it  has  suffered,  individually,  the  loss 
of  officers  and  soldiers,  who  have  been  assassinated 
by  Mexicans,  sometimes  almost  in  sight  of  their  own 
camp.  An  outrage  of  this  character  preceded  the 
melancholy  affair  of  Catana.  I  do  not  mention  these 
truths  with  a  view  of  justifying  in  any  manner,  the 
practice  of  retaliation,  because  my  government  is  suffi 
ciently  civilized  to  make  a  distinction  between  the 
lawless  acts  of  individuals,  and  the  general  policy 
which  governs  the  operations  of  an  enemy ;  but  you 


342  GENERAL    TAYLOR  S    REPLY. 

have  endeavored  to  make  a  comparison,  between  our 
respective  governments  in  regard  to  the  manner  in 
which  they  conduct  the  war,  which  I  cannot  pass 
without  remark.  In  this  connection,  it  should  be  borne 
in  mind  that  the  Mexican  troops  have  given  to  the 
vorld  the  example  of  killing  the  wounded  upon  the 
field  of  battle. 

As  you  have  adverted  to  the  requisition  which  I  have 
made  upon  the  people  of  these  States  to  make  indem 
nity  for  the  losses  incurred  by  the  destruction  of  one 
of  our  trains,  I  take  the  liberty  of  informing  you  that 
this  was  not  the  act  of  the  Mexican  troops  exclusively, 
but  that  the  rancheros  of  the  country  were  chiefly 
concerned  in  it ;  and  that  the  subsequent  assassination 
and  mutilation  of  the  unarmed  teamsters  were  marked 
by  an  atrocious  barbarity  unparalleled  in  the  present 
war. 

It  is  with  pain  that  I  find  myself  under  the  necessity 
of  addressing  you  in  a  manner  to  which  I  am  little 
accustomed  ;  but  I  have  been  provoked  to  do  so  by  the 
object  and  the  manner  of  your  communication,  which 
is  objectionable,  in  my  estimation,  as  well  in  its  insinu 
ations  as  in  its  tone.  With  respect  to  the  implied 
threat  of  retaliation,  I  beg  you  to  understand  that  I 
hold  it  at  its  true  worth,  and  that  I  am  at  all  times 
prepared  to  act  accordingly,  whatever  may  be  the 
policy  or  mode  of  carrying  on  the  war  which  the 
Mexican  government  or  its  generals  may  think  it 
proper  to  adopt.  I  am,  sir,  with  much  respect,  your 
obedient  servant. 

The  following  anecdotes  are  told  of  the  old  general's 
coolness  at  Monterey  :  The  first  shot  fired  at  Monterey 
was  from  one  of  the  long  culverines,  aimed  at  General 


HIS    COOLNESS    AT    MONTEREY  313 

Taylor  himself,  whilst  reconnoitring.  It  struck  a 
short  distance  in  front  of  him  and  bounded  over  his 
head.  "  There  !  I  knew  it  would  fall  short  of  me,"  he 
calmly  remarked.  One  anecdote  of  General  Taylor  at 
Monterey,  told  by  his  staff,  has  never  appeared  in  print. 
In  traversing  the  field  of  battle,  it  was  necessary  to 
cross  a  bridge  which  was  constantly  swept  by  the 
Mexican  artillery.  When  approaching  it,  it  was  agreed 
that  they  (the  general  and  his  staff)  should  cross  it 
singly  at  a  gallop.  Four  had  crossed  thus,  when  it 
came  the  general's  turn.  Just  as  he  reached  the  mid 
dle  of  the  bridge,  and  when  the  balls  were  showering 
around  him,  something  going  wrong  in  another  part 
of  the  field  attracted  his  attention.  Stopping  his  horse, 
much  to  the  discomfiture  of  those  following  him,  he 
deliberately  took  out  and  arranged  his  spy-glass,  satis 
fied  himself,  and  then  closing  it,  rodesDn. 

When  General  La  Vega  was  introduced  to  General 
Taylor  on  the  battle  field,  the  latter  shook  him  warmly 
by  the  hand,  and  addressed  to  him  the  following  hand 
some  remarks :  "  General,  I  do  assure  you  I  deeply 
regret  that  this  misfortune  has  fallen  upon  you.  I  regret 
it  sincerely,  and  I  take  pleasure  in  returning  you  the 
sword  which  you  have  this  day  worn  with  so  much 
gallantry ;"  handing  him  at  the  same  time  the  sword 
which  General  Vega  had  yielded  to  Captain  May. 

The  following  anecdote  illustrating  the  simple  habits 
and  republican  tastes  of  this  heroic,  unassuming,  and 
excellent  man,  is  related  by  the  committee  who  bore  to 
him  the  sword  presented  by  the  citizens  of  New  Orleans  : 
"  We  presented  ourselves  at  the  opening  of  one  of  the 
tents,  before  which  was  standing  a  dragoon's  horse, 
much  used  by  hard  service.  Upon  a  camp-stool  at  our 
left,  sat  General  ,  in  busy  conversation  with  a 


344  HIS    SIMPLE    TASTES. 

hearty-looking  old  gentleman,  sitting  on  a  box,  cush 
ioned  with  an  Arkansas  blanket,  dressed  in  Attakapas 
pantaloons  and  a  linen  roundabout,  and  remarkable  for 
a  bright  flashing  eye,  a  high  forehead,  a  farmer  look, 
and  '  rough  and  ready'  appearance.  It  is  hardly  neces 
sary  for  us  to  say  that  this  personage  was  General 
Taylor,  the  commanding  hero  of  two  of  the  most 
remarkable  battles  on  record,  and  the  man  who,  by  his 
firmness  and  decision  of  character,  has  shed  lustre  upon 
the  American  arms. 

"  There  was  no  pomp  about  his  tent ;  a  couple  of 
rough  blue  chests  served  for  his  table,  on  which  was 
strewn,  in  masterly  confusion,  a  variety  of  official 
documents  ;  a  quiet-looking,  citizen-dressed  personage 
made  his  appearance  upon  hearing  the  significant  call 
of  '  Ben,'  bearing,  on  a  tin  salver,  a  couple  of  black 
bottles  and  shining  tumblers,  arranged  around  an 
earthen  pitcher  of  Rio  Grande  water.  These  refresh 
ments  were  deposited  upon  a  stool,  and  we  'helped 
ourselves/  by  invitation.  We  bore  to  the  general  a 
complimentary  gift  from  some  of  his  fellow- citizens  of 
New  Orleans,  which  he  declined  receiving  for  the  pres 
ent,  giving  at  the  same  time  a  short  but  '  hard  sense' 
lecture  on  the  impropriety  of  naming  children  and 
places  after  men  before  they  were  dead,  or  of  his  re 
ceiving  a  present  for  his  services  '  before  the  campaign, 
so  far  as  he  was  concerned,  was  finished/ 

"  With  the  highest  possible  admiration  of  the  repub 
lican  simplicity  of  the  manners  and  character  of  Gene 
ral  Taylor,  we  bade  him  good  day,  with  a  higher  appre 
ciation  of  our  native  land,  for  possessing  such  a  man 
as  a  citizen,  and  of  its  institutions  for  moulding  such  a 
character." 

Nothing,  it  is  said,  annoys  General  Taylor  more  than 


ANECDOTES    OF    HIM.  345 

to  have  Mexicans  come  to  him  and  address  him  in 
Spanish.  During  the  year  he  has  been  in  this  coun 
try,  he  has  learned  but  one  word  of  Spanish,  and  that 
is  vamos ;  the  imperative  plural  of  go — begons.  One 
day,  while  encamped  at  Saltillo,  being  very  busy  in  his 
tent,  a  Mexican  came  up  and  commenced  uttering  a 
long  complaint  in  Spanish.  The  old  general  turned  to 
Major  Bliss  and  asked — "  What  in  heaven's  name  does 
the  man  wajit?"  Major  Bliss  explained  that  the  Mis- 
sissippians  appeared  to  be  taking  wood  from  his  house. 
Now,  the  Mississippi  regiment  was  a  favorite  of  the 
general's,  and  as  they  had  always  conducted  them 
selves  well,  he  was  in  an  unfortunate  mood  to  hear 
complaints  against  them.  So,  waving  his  hand  towards 
the  Mexican,  he  told  him  to  "  huebos,  huebos,  huebos ;" 
[eggs,  eggs,  eggs !]  He  had  heard  some  one  use  the 
word,  a  minute  before,  and  took  it  for  his  favorite  word 
vamos.  When  General  Taylor,  in  January  last,  ar 
rived  here  from  Monterey,  he  encamped  near  town, 
but  was  not  pleased  with  the  location  for  an  encamp 
ment.  So  speaking  on  the  subject  with  a  number  of 
officers  that  had  called  to  pay  their  respects  to  him,  he 
told  them  that  in  a  few  days  he  should  move  the  whole 
army  to  agua  ardiente,  (the  Mexican  word  for  brandy.) 
He  meant  Agua  Nueva. 

The  general  had  occasion  to  visit  Point  Isabel,  after 
the  battle  of  Buena  Vista;  and  the  captain  of  the 
steamboat  had  reserved  a  suit  of  state-rooms  for  the 
general's  accommodation.  There  were  several  sick 
and  wounded  volunteers  on  the  boat,  en  route  for  Xew 
Orleans,  who  had  to  take  the  wayfare  incident  to  a 
crowded  boat,  and  particularly  so  on  this  occasion. 
General  Taylor  soon  saw  all  this,  and  at  once  ordered 
these  men  to  be  placed  in  his  staterooms  and  proper 


346  ANECDOTES. 

attention  paid  them.  It  was  rather  a  cold  rainy  day 
when  this  occurred.  The  deck  hands  and  many  others 
on  the  boat,  did  not  know  General  Taylor.  The  wind 
blew  high,  and  the  firemen  had  raised  a  sail  in  front  of 
the  boilers  to  protect  themselves  from  the  rain ;  and 
under  this  sail  there  were  some  old  mattresses  :  here 
General  Taylor  laid  down  and  went  to  sleep.  At  sup 
per-time  great  inquiries  were  made  for  the  general,  and 
servants  sent  off  to  look  him  up.  But  he  .could  not  be 
found !  At  last  some  one  going  below  inquired  of  a 
fireman  if  he  had  seen  such  and  such  a  man.  The 
fireman  said  no,  but  added,  "  there  is  a  clever  old  fel 
low  asleep  there  under  the  sail  in  front  of  the  fire !"  It 
was  General  Taylor.  Yes,  sweet  indeed  must  be  the 
sleep  of  such  a  man,  who  has  the  heart  to  change  places 
with  the  poor  sick  soldier,  as  Taylor  did  on  this  occa 
sion  ; — such  humanity  stands  out  in  bold  relief,  and 
greatly  mitigates  the  evils  incident  to  war. 

A  correspondent  of  the  Pennsylvania  Inquirer  relates 
the  following  anecdote  of  the  commander  of  the  army  : 
"  This  morning  I  heard  a  little  incident  respecting 
General  Taylor,  which,  at  the  present  time,  will  be 
interesting.  During  the  Florida  campaign,  a  certain 
young  officer,  after  receiving  his  commission,  was 
ordered  to  join  the  army  in  that  quarter.  His  first 
duty  was,  of  course,  to  report  himself  to  General  Tay 
lor.  After  a  very  tedious  journey,  however,  through 
the  woods,  our  officer  arrived  at  a  small  shanty  called 
a  tavern,  about  fifty  miles  from  head-quarters,  \vhere 
he  thought  proper  to  stay  three  days.  There  were 
only  two  visitors  there  besides  himself.  One  of  them, 
an  oldish,  shabby-looking  man,  with  a  black  hat,  minus 
part  of  the  crown,  and  a  piece  of  twine  for  a  ribbon, 
was  very  inquisitive,  and  among  other  things  asked  our 


ANECDOTES.  347 

officei  what  excuse  he  intended  to  make  for  his  delay 
in  reporting  himself  to  the  general. 

" '  Oh,'  said  the  officer,  '  they  say  Taylor  is  a  very 
easy  old  soul,  and  I  can  easily  make  up  an  excuse.' 
On  going  to  bed  that  night,  the  officer  asked  the  land 
lord  who  that  impudent,  inquisitive  old  fellow  was? 
•'  Why/  said  the  host,  '  don't  you  know  General  Tay 
lor  ?'  About  an  hour  afterwards,  at  midnight,  the 
tramp  of  a  horse's  feet  was  heard,  making  large  tracks 
towards  head-quarters." 

The  night  of  the  23d  of  February  last  was  one  of 
most  intense  anxiety  to  the  participators  in  the  bloody 
fight  of  Buena  Vista.  After  twelve  hours  of  obstinate 
fighting,  with  final  result  yet  unknown,  nothing  but 
water  having  passed  the  lips  of  those  gallant  men  for 
the  last  twelve  hours,  the  (lower  of  their  respective 
corps  dead  or  wounded,  and  the  certainty  of  a  renewral 
of  the  onslaught  the  next  day,  it  is  hard  to  imagine  a 
period  more  calculated  to  "  try  men's  souls"  than  that 
night.  After  the  cessation  of  the  fight,  came  the  lassi 
tude  superinduced  by  the  extraordinary  excitement  of 
the  day ;  men  fell  exhausted,  and  bivouacked  in  the 
line — "  the  weary  to  rest  and  the  wounded  to  die." 
The  depression  of  physical  energy  was  so  great,  that 
neither  hunger  nor  danger  could  incite  them;  that 
oloody  field  was  at  8  o'clock  as  silent  as  the  grave.  It 
can  hardly  be  surmised  \vhat  were  the  feelings  of  that 
"  great  old  man"  upon  contemplating  the  results  of  that 
day's  work.  No  officer  sought  repose,  and  the  camp 
fires,  which  on  other  occasions  had  been  the  scene  of 
jest  and  merriment,  were  now  still,  and  the^  deep  anx 
iety  depicted  on  the  faces  of  the  various  groups  of 
officers,  impressed  you  with  a  solemnity  foreboding  ill, 
that  was  truly  painful.  All  eyes  were  turned  ever  and 


348  ANECDOTES. 

anon  to  the  tent  of  one  upon  whom  all  their  hopes 
were  placed,  but  not  a  light,  not  a  movement  could  be 
discerned.  The  occasion  made  that  single  tent  an  ob 
ject  of  intense  solicitude.  Some  wondered  if  he  was 
alone ;  others  would  have  given  their  earthly  wealth  to 
have  known  the  thoughts,  the  hopes,  the  wishes,  the 
intentions  of  the  old  hero ;  but  all  was  dark  and  silent 
as  the  tomb.  Captain  L.,  of  the  topographical  engi 
neers,  had  visited  the  battle-ground  at  night.  He  had 
made  some  discoveries  he  thought  important  to  be 
communicated  immediately  to  the  commander-in-chief. 
On  approaching  the  general's  quarters,  he  overtook  his 
servant,  who  had  been  attending  to  his  master's  cav 
alry,  and  inquired  if  the  "  old  man"  was  alone  and 
awake.  "  I '  spec  he  fast  asleep,  captain,  for  he  eat  a 
monstrous  hearty  supper,  and  when  he  eat  a  big  supper 
ke  sleep  berry  hard  and  sound,  and  I  reckon  you  wont 
see  de  old  hos'  'fore  4  o'clock  in  de  mornin.  Listen, 
you  hear  him  snore  clean  out  here."  When  the  cap 
tain  made  a  report  of  this  last  reconnoissance,  joy  and 
satisfaction  were  diffused  through  the  camp.  They 
knew  that  all  was  safe. 

Among  the  volunteers  was  a  "  gentleman's  son" — a 
full  private,  who,  heartily  sick  of  rainy  weather,  mud, 
and  no  shelter,  first  went  to  his  captain  with  his  com 
plaints  ;  but  meeting  with  no  particular  sympathy, 
resolved  to  have  a  talk  with  General  Taylor  himself. 
Arrived  at  the  commander's  quarters,  the  general  was 
pointed  out  to  him,  but  he  was  rather  incredulous. 
"  That  old  fellow  General  Taylor  ?  Nonsense!"  Satis 
fied,  however,  that  such  was  even  the  case,  he  marched 
up,  and  rather  patronizingly  opened  his  business. 

"  General  Taylor,  I  believe." 

"Yes,  sir." 


A  GENTLEMAN  VOLUNTEER.  349 

"  Well,  general,  I'm  devilish  glad  to  see  you — am, 
indeed."  The  general  returned  the  civility. 

"  General,  you'll  excuse  me,  but  since  I've  been  here 
I've  been  doing  all  I  could  for  you — have,  indeed; 
but  the  fact  is,  the  accommodations  are  very  bad — they 
are,  indeed  ;  mud,  sir !  bleeged  to  lie  down  in  it,  actu 
ally  ;  and  the  fact  is,  general,  I'm  a  gentleman's  son, 
and  not  used  to  it !" 

The  general,  no  doubt  deeply  impressed  with  the 
fact  of  having  a  gentleman's  son  in  his  army,  expressed 
his  regret  that  such  annoyance  should  ever  exist,  under 
any  circumstances,  in  a  civilized  army. 

"  Well — but,  general,  what  am  I  to  do  ?" 

"Why,  really,  I  don't  know,  unless  you  take  my 
place/' 

"Well,  now,  that's  civil — 'tis,  indeed.  Of  course 
don't  mean  to  turn  you  out,  but  a  few  hours'  sleep — a 
cot,  or  a  bunk,  or  anything — would  be  so  refreshing ! 
Your  place — where  is  it,  general  ?" 

"  O,  just  drop  down — anywhere  about  here — any 
place  about  camp  will  answer !" 

The  look  which  the  "gentleman's  son"  gave  the 
general  was  rather  peculiar. 

"Well,  no  wonder  they  call  you  'Rough  and 
Ready/ "  said  he ;  and,  amid  the  smiles  of  all  but 
"Rough  and  Ready"  himself,  the  "gentleman's  son" 
returned  to  take  his  chance  of  the  weather. 

It  having  been  insinuated  by  some  that  Major  Bliss 
was  the  author  of  General  Taylor's  dispatches,  the  Ha- 
gerstown,  (Md.)  Torch  Light,  administers  a  quietus  to 
that  idea,  by  the  following  fact,  which  the  editor  ob 
tained  from  a  gentleman  who  was  a  graduate  of  West 
Point,  and  a  class  and  room-mate  of  Governor  Davis, 
of  Mississippi.  General  Taylor,  without  doubt,  writes 


350  TAYLOR'S  ABILITY  IN  COMPOSITION. 

his  own  dispatches,  and  a  blessed  time  it  will  be  for 
the  printers,  as  well  as  everybody  else,  when  the  di 
rect,  concise,  comprehensive  missives  of  "  Z.  Taylor" 
issue  from  the  White  House : 

In  conversation  with  General  G ,  of  the  U.  S. 

Army,  now  stationed  at  Washington,  our  friend  asked 
the  question,  if  Major  Bliss  did  not  write  the  dis 
patches.  The  old  general's  eye  sparkled  with  indigna 
tion,  and  he  replied  that  he  had  served  with  General 
Taylor  upon  thirteen  courts-martial,  and  that  he  (Gen 
eral  Taylor)  had  been  selected  by  each  court  to  draw 
up  its  report,  because  of  his  superior  ability  in  compo 
sition — that  all  were  willing  to  accede  to  him  the  fac 
ulty  of  expressing  in  the  clearest,  strongest,  and  most 
forcible  manner,  the  views  of  the  court,  and  hence  he 
was  uniformly  selected  for  this  purpose.  General 

G also  stated,  that  in  Florida  a  misunderstanding 

arose  between  General  Twiggs  and  General  Taylor, 
from  a  remark  made  by  the  latter  in  regard  to  some 
military  operations  of  the  former.  A  correspondence 
ensued,  which  proved  perfectly  satisfactory  to  General 
Twiggs.  One  of  General  Taylor's  communications, 
in  which  he  gave  at  large  his  views  of  the  matter  in 
dispute,  reached  Washington,  and,  General  G re 
marked,  was  regarded  by  the  gentlemen  of  the  army  as 
one  of  the  most  powerful  military  productions  they  had 
ever  seen.  This  communication  seems  to  have  fore 
shadowed  the  dispatches,  whose  fame  has  spread  over 
Europe  and  our  country.  One  of  the  peculiarities  of 
General  Taylor's  style  of  writing  was  also  noted.  In 
stead  of  having,  as  is  customary,  a  margin  at  the  side 
of  the  sheet,  General  Taylor  commences  at  the  extreme 
limit,  and  fills  the  sheet  so  completely,  that,  as  our  in 
formant  observed,  it  is  impossible  to  crowd  in  any- 


THE    SPLENDOR    OF    TAYLOR^    DEEDS.  35] 

where,  even  a  little  i.  This  seems  to  be  one  of  the 
many  peculiarities  of  "  Rough  and  Ready." 

It  has  been  the  happy  fortune  of  few  men,  of  any 
age  or  any  country,  to  have  won  so  brilliant  a  military 
career  by  such  a  rapid  succession  of  splendid  and  glo 
rious  achievements  of  arms;  and  to  have  established 
a  fame  upon  so  firm  a  basis,  by  a  series  of  victories 
which  throw  so  far  into  the  shade  the  deeds  of  many 
of  the  most  renowned  warriors  of  ancient  or  modern 
times,  as  General  Taylor  has,  by  the  rare  wisdom,  pru 
dence,  coolness  and  sagacity  exhibited  in  all  his  oper 
ations  in  Mexico ;  and  especially,  by  the  gallantry, 
heroism,  and  chivalric  courage  displayed  on  the  fields 
of  Palo  Alto,  Resaca  de  la  Palma,  Monterey  and  Buena 
Vista.  In  all  these  fiercely  contested  battles  he  has 
fought  under  such  unfavorable  circumstances,  and 
against  such  overwhelming  odds,  always  in  number, 
and  generally  in  discipline  and  military  appointments, 
as  no  other  general  has  ever  encountered  with  such 
uniformly  decisive  success. 

No  superiority  of  numbers,  strength  of  position,  or 
advantages  in  equipments  and  discipline,  has  ever,  for 
a  moment,  deterred  him  from  giving  the  enemy  battle, 
or  prevented  him  from  marching  straight  onward  to 
the  object  towards  which  all  his  energies  have  been 
bent,  since  he  first  encamped  on  the  Rio  Grande.  And 
the  country  fully  appreciates  his  almost  superhuman 
efforts  to  sustain  the  honor  of  our  arms.  The  public 
press  of  the  nation  has,  with  a  unanimity  never  be 
fore  exceeded,  resounded  with  his  praises,  and  the  peo 
ple  of  the  whole  Union  vie  with  each  other  in  doing 
him  honor.  Congress,  too,  as  well  as  the  legislative 
bodies  of  most  of  the  states,  have  passed  votes  of  thanks 
for  his  remarkable  services,  and  several  of  them  have 


HIS    CHARACTER. 


presented  him  with  other  testimonials  of  their  admira 
tion  for  his  character  and  gratitude  for  his  efforts  in 
defence  of  the  nation.  The  legislature  of  the  state 
of  New  York,  amongst  others,  passed  resolutions,  ten 
dering  to  him,  and  his  officers  and  men,  on  behalf  of 
their  constituents,  the  thanks  of  the  people  of  the  state 
for  their  gallant  conduct.  They  were  transmitted  to 
him  by  the  governor,  arid  elicited  an  appropriate  ac 
knowledgment. 

Soon  after  the  battles  of  Palo  Alto  and  Resaca  de  la 
Palma,  he  also  had  conferred  upon  him  the  rank  of 
Brevet  Major-General,  and  on  the  27th  of  June  he 
received  the  appointment  of  Major-General,  which 
was  unanimously  confirmed  by  Congress,  and  was  con 
stituted  commander-in-chief  of  all  the  American  forces 
in  Mexico ;  and  that  position  he  held  until  Major- 
General  Scott  was  ordered  to  that  country,  in  Novem 
ber,  1846. 

An  intimate  personal  friend,  one  who  has  known 
him  long  and  well,  Colonel  Humphrey  Marshall  of 
Kentucky,  has,  in  the  following  extract  of  a  speech 
delivered  by  him,  at  a  barbecue  given  to  the  Kentucky 
volunteers,  given  the  following  discriminating  sketch 
of  General  Taylor's  character.  Coming  from  such  a 
source  it  cannot  but  prove  highly  interesting,  as  it  may 
be  relied  on  as  authentic.  After  reading  it,  none  will 
be  surprised  that  a  man  possessing  such  high,  rare  and 
admirable  traits  of  character  as  General  Taylor  does, 
should  be  so  honored  and  loved  by  all  brought  into  per 
sonal  relations  with  him : 

"  My  service  in  Mexico  frequently  brought  me  near 
to  General  Taylor,  and  I  was  industrious  in  my  exam 
ination  of  the  actual  character  of  the  man  whenever 
opportunity  was  presented.  I  have  no  motive  to 


HIS    CHARACTER.  353 

deceive  you,  and  you  must  take  the  impressions  I 
received  for  what  they  are  worth.  The  manner  in 
which  politicians,  in  this  our  day.  are  accustomed  to 
speak  of  men,  and  especially  of  such  as  may  be  eleva 
ted  to  political  power,  is  so  utterly  extravagant,  so 
profusely  hyperbolical,  that  after  they  take  hold  of  the 
character  of  General  Taylor,  no  description  I  could 
give  would  be  recognized  as  bordering  on  truth. 
Glowing  oratory  will  seize  the  achievements  of  the 
general,  and  dress  them  off  in  all  the  frippery  of  meta 
phor,  and  I  doubt  whether  the  man  will  be  regarded, 
or  whether  he  would  know  his  own  likeness. 

"  I  have  seen  the  pictures  of  him  in  books,  and 
pamphlets,  and  in  prints.  Some  have  the  head  of  Na 
poleon,  others  that  of  Cassar,  and  some  are  unlike  any 
original  I  have  ever  beheld,  but  none  like  the  general 
I  know.  So  it  will  be  with  the  pictures  the  politicians 
will  execute.  If  I  tried  to  express  in  the  fewest  words 
what  manner  of  man  General  Taylor  is,  I  should  say, 
that,  in  his  manners  and  his  appearance,  he  is  one  of 
the  common  people  of  this  country.  He  might  be  trans 
ferred  from  his  tent  at  Monterey  to  this  assembly,  and 
he  would  not  be  remarked  among  this  crowd  of  re 
spectable  old  farmers  as  a  man  at  all  distinguished  from 
those  around  him.  Perfectly  temperate  in  his  habits ; 
perfectly  plain  in  his  dress ;  entirely  unassuming  in 
his  manners,  he  appears  to  be  an  old  gentleman  in  fine 
health,  whose  thoughts  are  not  turned  upon  personal 
appearance,  and  who  has  no  point  about  him  to  attract 
particular  attention.  In  his  intercourse  with  men,  he 
is  free,  frank,  and  manly.  He  plays  off  none  of  the 
airs  of  some  great  men  wrhom  I  have  met.  There  is 
an  artificial  dignity  some  men  wear,  to  add  to  a  moral 
stature  which  conscience  whispers  to  them  may  need 


354  HIS    CHARACTER. 

I 

support  from  mannerism.  Some,  who  would  be  deemed 
great,  preserve  their  reputation  by  studied  gravity, 
which  seems  to  say — 

"  I  am  Sir  Oracle  ; 
When  I  ope  my  mouth  let  no  dog  bark." 

But  a  close  and  critical  examination  of  these  always 
discovers  fissures  in  the  character  fatally  blemishing 
the  perfection  which  they  pretend  to,  and  preserve  the 
appearance  of,  by  keeping  at  a  distance  from  their 
peers.  General  Taylor  is  not  of  this  class  of  great 
men.  Any  one  may  approach  him  as  nearly  as  can  be 
desired,  and  the  more  closely  his  character  is  examined 
the  greater  beauties  it  discloses. 

1.  He  is  an  honest  man.     I  do  not  mean  by   ifiat 
merely  that  he  does  not  cheat  nor  lie.     I  mean  thaf.  he 
is  a  man  who  never  dissembles  and  who  scorns  all  dis 
guises.     He  neither  acts  a  part  among  his  friend",  for 
effect,  nor  assumes  to  be  what  he  is  not.     Whenever 
he  speaks  you  hear  what  he  honestly  believes,  and, 
whether  right  or  wrong,  you  feel  assured  that  he  has 
expressed  his  real  opinion.     His  dealings  with  men  have 
been  of  a  most  varied  character,  and  I  never  heard  his 
honest   name   stained   by  the  breath  of  the  slightest 
reproach. 

2.  He  is  a  man  of  rare  good  judgment.     By  no 
means  possessed  of  that   brilliancy  of  genius  which 
attracts  by  its  flashes,  yet,  like  the  meteor,  expires  even 
while  you  gaze  upon  it ;  by  no  means  enjoying  that 
combination  of  talent  which  penetrates  instantly  the 
abstrusest  subject,  and  measures  its  length  and  breadth 
as  if  by  intuition ;  General  Taylor  yet  has  that  order 
cf  intellect,  which  more  slowly  but  quite    as   surely, 
m  "tiers  all  that  it  engages  and  examines  all  the  combi- 


HIS    CHARACTER.  355 

nations  of  which  the  subject  is  susceptible.  A  nen  he 
announces  his  conclusions,  you  feel  confide i,-  that  he 
well  understands  the  ground  upon  which  he  plants 
himself,  and  you  rest  assured  that  the  conclusion  is  the 
deduction  of  skill  and  sound  sense  faithfully  applied  to 
the  matter  in  hand. 

It  is  this  order  of  mind  which  has  enabled  him,  unlike 
many  other  officers  of  the  army,  to  attend  to  the  wants 
of  his  family,  by  so  using  the  means  at  his  disposal  as 
to  surround  himself  in  his  old  age  with  a  handsome 
private  fortune,  and  to  be  blessed  with  an  almost  per 
fect  constitution.  I  would  to-day  prefer  his  advice  in 
any  matter  of  private  interest — would  take  his  opinion 
as  to  the  value  of  an  estate — would  rather  follow  his 
suggestions  in  a  scheme  where  property  or  capital  was  to 
be  embarked,  would  pursue  more  confidently  his  counsel 
where  the  management  of  an  army  was  involved,  or 
the  true  honor  of  my  country  was  at  stake,  than  that 
of  any  other  man  I  have  ever  known.  I  regard  his 
judgment  as  being  first  rate  at  everything,  from  a 
horse  trade  up  to  a  trade  in  human  life  upon  the 
field  of  battle. 

3.  lie  is  a  firm  man  and  possessed  of  great  energy 
of  character.     It  were  a  wraste  of  time  to  dwell  upon 
these  traits  of  his  character,  for  his  military  career  has 

t  afforded  such  abundant  examples  of  his  exercise  of 
these  qualities,  as  to  render  them  familiar  to  every 
citizen  who  has  ever  read  or  heard  of  the  man.  In  his 
army  they  are  daily  exhibited,  and  stand  conspicuously 
displayed  in  every  order  which  emanates  from  his  pen. 

4.  He  is  a  benevolent  man.     This  quality  has  been 
uniformly  displayed  in  his  treatment  of  the  prisoners 
who  have  been  placed  in  his  power  by  the  vicissitudes 
of  war.     No  man  who  had  seen  him  after  the  battle 


356  HIS    CHARACTER. 

of  Buena  Vista,  as  he  ordered  the  wagons  to  bring  in 
the  Mexican  wounded  from  the  battle-field,  and  heard 
him  as  he  at  once  cautioned  his  own  men  that  the 
wounded  were  to  be  treated  with  mercy,  could  doubt 
that  he  was  alive  to  all  the  kinder  impulses  of  our 
nature. 

The  indiscretions  of  youth  he  chides  with  paternal 
kindness,  yet  with  the  decision  which  forbids  their  rep 
etition,  and  the  young  men  of  his  army  feel  that  it  is  a 
pleasure  to  gather  around  him,  because  they  know  that 
they  are  as  welcome  as  though  they  visited  the  hearth 
stone  of  their  own  home,  and  they  are  always  as  freely 
invited  to  partake  of  what  he  has  to  offer  as  if  they 
were  under  the  roof  of  a  father.  His  conduct  in  spar 
ing  the  deserters  who  were  captured  at  Buena  Vista, 
exhibited  at  the  same  time  in  a  remarkable  manner  his 
benevolence  and  his  judgment.  "  Don't  shoot  them," 
said  he ;  "  the  worst  punishment  I  will  inflict  is  to  re 
turn  them  to  the  Mexican  army."  When  Napoleon 
said  to  one  of  his  battalions,  "  inscribe  it  on  their  flag : 
'  No  longer  of  the  army  of  Italy,'  "  he  used  an  expres 
sion  which  was  deemed  so  remarkable,  that  history 
preserved  it  for  the  admiration  of  future  ages ;  yet  it 
wras  not  more  forcible  as  an  illustration  of  his  power  in 
touching  the  springs  of  human  action,  than  is  that  of 
General  Taylor  illustrative  of  the  manner  in  which  he 
would  make  an  example  for  the  benefit  of  the  army. 

5.  He  is  a  man  of  business  habits.  I  never  have 
known  General  Taylor  to  give  up  a  day  to  pleasure. 
I  have  never  visited  his  quarters  without  seeing  evi 
dences  of  the  industry  with  which  he  toiled.  If  his 
talented  adjutant  was  surrounded  by  papers,  so  was 
the  general.  And  though  he  would  salute  a  visitor 
kindly,  and  bid  him  with  familiar  grace  to  amuse  him- 


HIS    CHARACTER.  357 

self  until  he  was  at  leisure,  he  never  would  interrupt 
the  duties  which  his  station  called  him  to  perform. 
When  these  were  closed  for  the  day,  he  seemed  to  en 
joy  to  a  remarkable  degree  the  vivacity  of  young  offi 
cers,  and  to  be  glad  to  mingle  irt  their  society.  As  a 
conversationist,  I  do  not  think  General  Taylor  pos 
sesses  great  power.  He  uses  few  words,  and  expresses 
himself  with  energy  and  force,  but  not  fluently.  His 
language  is  select.  I  would  say,  however,  from  my 
knowledge  of  the  man,  that  he  is  entirely  capable  of 
producing  anything  in  the  shape  of  an  order  or  letter, 
which  has  ever  appeared  over  his  signature ;  and  in 
saying  so  much,  I  understand  myself  as  asserting  that 
he  is  master  of  his  mother  tongue,  and  can  write  about 
as  effectively  and  handsomely  as  he  can  fight. 

Such  then  is  the  picture  of  the  man — not  of  the  gen 
eral — who  won  upon  my  esteem.  I  am  not  in  the 
habit  of  eulogizing  men,  and  have  indulged  on  this  oc 
casion,  because  I  desire  to  describe  to  you,  with  the 
exactness  of  truth,  those  qualities  which,  combined  in 
General  Taylor,  made  him  appear  to  me  as  a  first  rate 
model  of  a  true  American  character.  Others  will  dwell 
upon  the  chivalry  he  has  so  often  displayed,  and  his 
greatness  so  conspicuously  illustrated  upon  the  field  of 
battle  ;  I  formed  my  ideas  of  the  man  when  he  was  free 
from  duty,  and  had  no  motive  to  appear  in  any  other 
lio-ht  than  such  as  was  thrown  upon  him  by  nature, 
education,  and  principles. 

In  personal  appearance,  General  Taylor  is  described 
to  be  about  five  feet  eight  inches  high,  very  thick  set, 
rather  inclining  to  corpulency,  and  slightly  stoop-shoul 
dered.  He  weighs  about  two  hundred  pounds,  and 
has  remarkably  short  legs  in  proportion  to  the  length 
of  his  body,  in  consequence  of  which,  he  looks  like  a 


358  HIS    CHARACTER. 

much  taller  man  than  he  really  is,  when  in  a  sitting 
position.  He  has  a  fine  head,  high  forehead,  light, 
keen,  penetrating  eye,  indicating  uniform  good-humor, 
and  firm,  compressed  lips.  His  hair  is  almost  white, 
his  face  care-worn,  hut  extremely  intelligent,  and  almost 
uniformly  lit  up  with  a  benevolent  smile.  When  speak 
ing  to  any  one  he  is  in  the  habit  of  partly  closing  one 
eye,  is  extremely  fond  of  a  joke,  and  ever  ready  with 
a  witty  repartee,  or  a  kind  word  for  all  who  address 
him.  He  dresses,  at  all  times,  with  great  simplicity, 
utterly  eschewing  tight  clothes,  and  even  a  military 
coat.  He  has  an  unconquerable  dislike  for  a  uniform, 
and  generally  is  seen  with  a  linen  roundabout,  cotton 
pantaloons,  and  a  straw  hat,  in  warm  weather,  and  his 
celebrated  brown  overcoat,  that  protected  him,  during 
his  Florida  campaigns,  in  cold  or  rainy  seasons. 

The  most  remarkable  traits  of  General  Taylor's 
character  are  the  wisdom  and  foresight  with  which  he 
lays  his  plans,  the  energy  and  promptness  with  which 
he  executes  them,  and  his  firmness,  decision  and  self- 
possession  in  the  hour  of  trial.  No  emergency,  how 
ever  unlooked-for  or  sudden,  no  danger,  however  im 
minent  and  threatening,  and  no  contingency,  of  what 
ever  nature,  are  ever  able  to  throw  him  off  his  guard, 
or  disturb  his  evenly  balanced  mind.  He  always 
proves  himself  equal  to  every  emergency,  and  rises  as 
the  dangers  that  beset  him  increase  ;  and  the  resources 
of  his  mind  are  as  inexhaustible  as  his  will  is  indomita 
ble  and  his  courage  unyielding.  All  his  movements 
are  characterized  by  the  highest  qualities  of  a  soldier. 
Calm,  sagacious,  resolute,  ready ; — with  a  boldness 
which  never  falters,  a  watchfulness  never  at  fault,  and 
a  comprehensiveness  of  plan  embracing  all  contingen 
cies,  he  has  won  for  himself  the  very  highest  military 


HIS    MILITARY    TALENTS.  359 

renown  which  it  has  ever  been  the  fortune  of  an  Ame 
rican  soldier  to  reach.  His  letters  and  dispatches  are 
models  of  military  writing,  not  surpassed  by  the  justly 
renowned  "  Wellington  Dispatches."  His  manly  asser 
tion  of  his  rights  as  the  commanding  general,  shows 
him  to  be  possessed  of  moral  courage  in  as  eminent  a 
degree  as  he  is  of  physical.  It  affords  some  relief  to 
the  horrors  of  this  war,  that  it  has  brought  out  to  the 

O 

knowledge  of  the  country,  and.  the  world,  the  fact  that 
we  possess  a  man  and  a  soldier  of  such  extraordinary 
merits. 

Great  emergencies,  it  is  said,  produce  great  men.  If 
they  do  not  produce  them,  they  at  least  bring  them  to 
light.  So  it  has  been  in  the  unhappy  war  between  us 
and  a  sister  republic.  A  man  of  simple  and  unosten 
tatious  habits — who,  though  possessing  great  wealth 
chose  to  follow  the  profession  of  arms,  and  was  satisfied 
with  the  common  routine  of  military  life,  never  thrust 
ing  himself  into  notice,  but  simply  doing  his  duty  in  a 
quiet  way — is  by  the  force  of  circumstances  brought 
prominently  before  the  public,  and  is  found  to  possess 
the  highest  military  talents,  and  every  other  quality 
which  men  are  accustomed  to  admire.  In  early  life, 
and  in  humble  rank,  he  successfully  defended  a  Western 
fort  against  a  superior  force  of  the  enemy.  His  modest 
dispatch  recording  the  defence,  had  almost  faded  from 
remembrance.  At  a  later  period,  a  brilliant  victory 
was  won  by  him  in  the  Florida  war,  and  even  with 
that  we  had  almost  ceased  to  be  conversant.  There 
was  no  crisis  of  public  affairs,  or  essential  risk  of  the 
national  honor,  to  make  these  events  of  historical  or 
political  importance.  In  comparative  retirement,  or  at 
most  in  the  command  of  distant  posts,  the  unaffected, 
though  successful  commander,  passed  away  years  of 


300 


HIS     HAPPY    TEMPERAMENT. 


obscurity.  We  cannot  tell  whether  this  was  congenial 
to  his  feelings  or  not ;  but  be  this  as  it  may,  he  knew 
how  to  "  bide  his  time,"  and  the  want  of  such  knowl 
edge  destroys  the  prospects  and  usefulness  of  many  a 
really  great  man. 

How  many  of  our  most  gifted  public  servants,  im 
patient  of  delay,  have  endeavored  to  control  destiny 
itself,  and  create  the  events  upon  which  their  advance 
ment  depended.  How  many  bright  spirits  have  been 
shrouded  in  darkness,  before  they  have  reached  even  a 
mid-day  career.  General  Taylor,  fortunate  in  his 
philosophy  as  in  his  temperament,  permitted  events  to 
take  their  course,  tranquil  in  retirement,  and  calm  even 
when  forgotten.  But  all  at  once  he  develops  the 
qualities  of  a  great  general.  In  the  most  critical 
situations  his  judgment  foresees  what  his  valor  wins. 
No  matter  what  may  be  the  difficulties  around  him,  he 
meets  and  overcomes  them  all.  In  strategy  as  well  as 
hand  to  hand,  he  evinces  superior  skill,  and  wrhen  the 
nation  almost  gives  him  up  for  lost,  again  and  again 
he  sends  back  to  it  intelligence  that  he  has  conquered. 
In  no  page  of  our  history  do  wre  find  recorded  four 
such  hard  fought  battles,  fought  at  such  fearful  odds, 
as  those  which  have  placed  such  laurels  on  the  brow 
of  General  Taylor,  and  the  brave  troops  under  hi? 
command.  The  country  is  astonished  to  find  it  pos 
sesses  such  a  man ! 


CHAPTER  IX. 

General  Taylor  at  Montevey — Punishment  of  Banditti — Lawlessness  of 
Texan  Kangers — Expedition  against  HuejutUi — General  Tavlor's 
Force — Letter  to  Mr.  Marcy — Departure  from  Mexico — Attachment 
of  his  Soldiers — His  Reception  in  the  United  States — His  Political 
Opinions — Presidential  Question. 

AFTER  the  dreadful  defeat  of  the  Mexicans  at  Buena 
Vista,  the  army  under  Santa  Anna  precipitately  fell 
back  upon  San  Luis  PotosL,  claiming,  in  the  mean 
time,  the  honor  of  a  triumphant  victory  over  General 
Taylor,  but  making  no  further  attempt  to  molest  the 
American  forces  in  that  quarter.  General  Taylor  re 
tired  to  his  camp  at  Monterey,  where  he  was  compelled 
to  remain,  and  repose  upon  the  laurels  he  had  won. 
He  was  too  much  crippled  by  the  severe  losses  he  had 
suffered  at  Buena  Vista,  weakened  as  his  forces  had 
previously  been  by  the  large  drafts  made  upon  them 
to  strengthen  the  line  of  operations  on  the  Capital  of 
Mexico  by  the  way  of  Vera  Cruz,  to  deem  it  safe  to 
attempt  to  march  upon  the  Capital  from  the  Rio 
Grande.  But  he  kept  a  vigilant  eye  upon  the  move 
ments  of  the  marauding  parties  of  the  enemy  who 
were  hovering  in  his  vicinity,  under  the  command  of 
Generals  Urrea  and  Canales,  who  had  learned  suffi 
cient  wisdom  from  former  experience  not  to  attempt 
to  molest  the  lion  in  his  lair,  or  to  venture  within  the 
16 


25 


362  PUNISHMENT    OF    BANDITTI. 

reach  of  one  who  had  proved  so  prompt  and  able  to 
punish  their  presumption. 

The  ranches  between  Meir  and  Monterey  had  long 
been  the  resort  of  armed  bands  of  the  enemy  who  had 
obstructed  General  Taylor's  line  of  communication. 
He  found  it  necessary,  therefore,  to  his  own  safety,  to 
give  orders  for  destroying  these  means  of  annoyance. 
They  were  accordingly  laid  waste,  and  an  indemnity 
required  of  the  local  Mexican  authorities  for  all  the 
property  destroyed  by  these  marauding  parties.  These 
rigid  measures  secured  his  wagon  trains  in  a  great 
degree  from  future  attacks.  Occasional  attempts  were 
made,  however,  upon  his  trains  by  the  banditti,  when 
they  were  not  well  guarded  and  the  prospect  of  plun 
der  was  sufficiently  tempting.  But  by  the  prompt  and 
energetic  measures  adopted  by  General  Taylor,  com 
parative  security  was  obtained  and  the  enemy  effectu 
ally  subdued  in  that  quarter. 

While  General  Taylor  was  encamped  at  Monterey, 
thus  guarding  the  interests  of  his  country,  General 
Villamil,  who  succeeded  in  the  command  at  San  Luis 
Potosi  upon  the  return  of  Santa  Anna  to  Mexico, 
addressed  to  him,  in  reply  to  the  requisition  for  in 
demnity  already  referred  to,  a  communication  couch 
ed  in  the  most  offensive  and  even  insulting  language. 
He  desired  to  know  of  General  Taylor  whether  his 
intentions  were  to  prosecute  the  war  in  conformity  to 
the  laws  of  nations,  and  as  wars  were  conducted  by 
civilized  countries,  or  as  barbarous  tribes  carry  it  on 
amongst  themselves.  He  also  very  ostentatiously  de 
manded  satisfaction  for  several  acts  of  violence  and 
outrage  that  had  been  perpetrated  by  a  portion  of  the 
Texan  Rangers,  under  the  command  of  Colonel  Hays, 
and  threatened  to  retaliate  upon  the  Americans,  should 


LAWLESSNESS    OF    TEXAN    RANGERS.  363 

a  prompt  compliance  with  his  demands  be  neglected. 
General  Taylor  peremptorily  declined  to  give  a  direct 
reply  to  this  inquiry  of  General  Villamil,  alleging  as 
the  ground  of  his  refusal,  that  it  was  grossly  insulting 
to  himself  personally  as  well  as  to  his  Government. 
He  assured  the  Mexican  general  that  "every  possible 
effort  had  been  made  to  discover  the  perpetrators  of 
these  outrages,  in  order  to  bring  them  to  trial  and 
punishment,  but  without  success."  In  regard  to  the 
important  threat  of  retaliation,  he  treated  it  writh  con 
tempt,  and  stated  that  he  was  ready  for  any  course  of 
policy  the  Mexican  authorities  might  decide  to  adopt. 
It  was  with  pain,  he  said,  that  he  found  himself  under 
the  necessity  of  addressing  General  Villamil  in  a  man 
ner  to  which  he  was  so  little  Accustomed.  But  he  had 
been  provoked  to  do  so  by  the  object  and  manner  of 
the  communication,  which  was  objectionable,  in  his 
estimation,  as  well  in  its  insinuations  as  in  its  tone. 
With  respect  to  the  implied  threat  of  retaliation,  he 
begged  General  Villamil  to  understand  that  he  held  it 
at  its  true  worth,  and  that  he  was  at  all  times  pre 
pared  to  act  accordingly,  whatever  might  be  the  policy 
or  mode  of  carrying  on  the  war,  which  the  Mexican 
Government  or  its  generals  might  think  it  proper  to 
adopt. 

During  the  ensuing  summer.  General  Taylor  found 
himself  unable  to  control  the  lawlessness  of  the  Ran 
gers  ;  and  so  many  unprovoked  outrages  were  commit 
ted,  the  authors  of  which  could  very  rarely  be  ascer 
tained,  that,  as  an  act  of  justice  to  himself  and  to  his 
country,  he  ordered  a  number  of  the  more  turbulent 
and  refractory  among  them  to  be  summarily  dismissed 
from  the  service,  regarding  them  as  being  wholly  un 
worthy  to  belong  to  the  American  army.  Collisions, 


364  EXPEDITION    AGAINST    HUEJUTLA. 

growing  out  of  these  outrages,  frequently  took  place ; 
but  the  departments  of  Tamaulipas  and  New  Leon, 
with  this  exception,  were  generally  quiet.  The  active 
operations  of  the  war  were  carried  on  upon  a  different 
theatre,  and  General  Taylor  remained  strictly  on  the 
defensive. 

Thus  General  Taylor  remained  at  Monterey  until 
Novemher,  1847,  faithfully  and  vigilantly  watching  and 
protecting  the  interests  and  honor  of  his  country;  main 
taining  his  previous  conquests,  and  keeping  in  subjec 
tion  the  turbulent  bands  of  the  enemy,  who  were  seeking 
every  opportunity  to  murder  and  plunder  small  parties 
of  Americans,  and  feebly  guarded  wagon  trains,  espe 
cially  when  accompanied  with  American  traders  with 
articles  of  merchandise.  He  was  able  to  engage  in 
no  enterprise  commensurate  with  his  former  brilliant 
achievements,  from  causes  already  adverted  to.  Neces 
sity,  therefore,  doomed  him  to  comparative  inactivity, 
wrhile  the  campaign  was  carried  on  in  another  quarter 
under  the  command  of  General  Scott. 

An  expedition  against  Huejutla,  however,  was  or 
dered  to  be  fitted  out,  which  left  Tampico  in  July, 
under  the  command  of  Colonel  DeRussey.  Learning 
that  a  large  body  of  Mexicans  lay  in  ambush  at  a 
narrow  gorge,  when  but  a  few  miles  from  his  destina 
tion,  and  meeting  with  unexpected  resistance  from  the 
enemy,  he  deemed  it  advisable  to  retreat,  which  he  did 
in  good  order,  though  riot  without  the  loss  of  twenty- 
eight  in  killed,  wounded  and  missing.  The  loss  of 
the  enemy  was  very  severe,  being  about  two  hundred 
in  killed  and  wounded. 

"In  the  expectation  of  being  ordered  to  advance  into 
the  interior,  General  Taylor  directed  a  camp  of  in 
struction  to  be  formed  at  Mier,  early  in  the  summer,  in 


TROOPS    ORDERED    TO    VERA    CRUZ.  365 

order  to  have  his  troops  ready  for  active  duty  in  the 
field.  The  camp  was  organized  by  General  Hopping, 
who  was  placed  in  command  of  the  upper  district  on 
the  Rio  Grande — Colonel  Davenport,  of  the  1st  infan 
try,  being  assigned  to  the  lower  district.  Colonel  Belk- 
nap,  of  the  8th  infantry,  was  ordered  to  take  the  im 
mediate  charge  of  the  camp,  but  before  it  had  fairly 
gone  into  operation,  General  Taylor  received  orders  to 
detach  a  large  portion  of  his  troops  to  reinforce  the 
column  under  General  Scott.  The  brilliant  results 
which  had  attended  the  operations  of  the  General-in- 
chief  on  the  line  of  the  National  Road,  and  the  neces 
sity  of  opening  his  communications  with  the  sea-coast, 
rendered  it  as  necessary  as  it  was  advisable  to  strength 
en  his  column  without  delay.  Several  new  volunteer 
regiments  had  previously  joined  General  Taylor,  to 
gether  with  three  regiments  of  infantry  raised  under 
the  ten  regiment  bill,  and  a  part  of  the  3d  dragoons. 

"  Instructions  were  received  by  General  Taylor,  in 
August,  to  send  all  his  disposable  troops  to  Vera  Cruz ; 
and  in  accordance  therewith,  General  Gushing,  with 
his  brigade,  consisting  of  the  13th  infantry,  Colonel 
Echols,  and  the  Massachusetts  volunteers,  Colonel 
Wright ;  and  General  Lane,  with  the  4th  Ohio,  Colo 
nel  Brough,  and  4th  Indiana,  Colonel  Gorman,  form 
ing  the  brigade  under  his  command  ;  together  with  five 
companies  of  Texan  rangers,  under  Colonel  Hays, 
were  ordered  to  embark  forthwith  from  the  Rio  Grande. 
General  Marshall  was  also  directed  to  join  General 
Scott,  with  two  regiments  of  Kentucky  volunteers,  re 
cently  enrolled,  and  on  their  way  to  Vera  Cruz. 

"  After  the  departure  of  these  troops,  General  Taylor 
had  about  6,000  men  under  his  command,  including  ten 
companies  of  regular  dragoons,  belonging  to  different 


366 

regiments,  and  nine  companies  of  regular  artillery,  also 
belonging  to  different  regiments,  serving  with  batteries, 
or  garrisoning  the  forts  on  the  Rio  Grande.  Besides 
the  regular  cavalry,  there  were  five  companies  of 
Texan  horse,  and  four  companies  of  mounted  volunteers 
from  different  States.  The  10th  infantry,  Colonel 
Temple,  was  ordered  to  garrison  Matamoras  and  Ca- 
margo.  Colonel  Butler,  with  the  companies  of  the  3d 
dragoons,  was  also  stationed  on  the  Rio  Grande. 
Colonel  Tibbatts  garrisoned  Monterey  with  six  compa 
nies  of  the  16th  infantry,  and  the  remaining  four  com 
panies  of  his  regiment  occupied  Seralvo.  Lieutenant 
Colonel  Fauntleroy,  with  his  squadron  of  the  2d  dra 
goons,  and  the  battery  of  Lieutenant  Colonel  Bragg, 
were  stationed  at  General  Taylor's  camp  at  Walnut 
Springs.  At  Buena  Vista  and  Saltillo,  were  the  Vir 
ginia  and  North  Carolina  regiments,  under  Colonels 
Hamtranck  and  Paine,  and  the  2d  Mississippi  rifles, 
Colonel  R  Davis,  with  the  heavy  battery  of  Captain 
Prentiss,  the  light  battery  of  Captain  Deas,  and  several 
companies  of  regular  and  volunteer  cavalry,  all  under 
the  orders  of  General  Wool." 

The  idea  of  marching  upon  the  Mexican  capital  from 
the  line  of  the  Sierra  Madre,  having  now  been  defi 
nitely  abandoned  for  the  more  feasible  plan  of  carrying 
on  operations  through  Vera  Cruz,  General  Taylor, 
seeing  no  hope  of  his  again  being  engaged  in  active 
service  during  the  war,  began  to  grow  restless  under 
the  inactive  life  he  was  compelled  to  lead.  Believing, 
therefore,  that  his  further  services  for  the  present 
could  be  dispensed  with,  and  finding  that  his  private 
affairs  were  severely  suffering  by  his  long  absence  from 
his  native  country,  he  asked  permission  of  the  govern 
ment  to  return  to  the  United  States.  This  request 


TAYLOR'S  EMBARRASSMENTS.  367 

being  complied  with,  General  Taylor  made  all  necessary 
arrangements  for  taking  a  final  leave  of  his  associates 
in  arms  in  Mexico. 

Before  following  the  victorious  General  to  the  United 
States,  however,  and  recording  his  brilliant  reception 
there,  it  may  not  be  out  of  place  here  to  refer  to  some 
of  the  embarrassments  under  which  General  Taylor  had 
labored,  in  consequence  of  the  inexplicable  coolness 
and  want  of  confidence  with  which  he  had  been  treated 
by  his  government,  almost  ever  since  he  crossed  the 
Rio  Grande.  The  censure  he  received  from  the  Ad 
ministration,  for  granting  to  the  enemy,  at  the  capture 
of  Monterey,  terms  which  they  were  pleased  to 
designate  as  too  lenient,  in  not  requiring  an  uncon 
ditional  capitulation,  was  looked  upon  with  surprise  in 
the  United  States,  and  pronounced  by  all  parties  as  un 
just  and  undeserved.  It  was  not  strange,  therefore, 
that  General  Taylor  should  have  deeply  felt  this  rebuke, 
nor  that  he  should  have  sought  an  opportunity  to  ex 
plain  the  motives  which  influenced  his  conduct  in 
agreeing  to  the  terms  of  capitulation  which  were  made 
the  occasion  for  this  censure.  If  he  had  appealed  from 
the  Administration  to  the  public,  he  would  have  been 
justified  in  the  eyes  of  the  American  people,  however 
wide  a  departure  it  may  have  been  from  the  rules  and 
regulations  of  the  army.  But  he  did  not  resort  to  this 
remedy  for  the  injustice  that  had  been  done  him.  He 
was  content  to  explain  his  motives  for  the  compara 
tively  liberal  terms  he  had  conceded  to  the  enemy,  to 
his  old  military  friend,  General  E.  P.  Gaines.  This  he 
did  in  the  freedom  of  a  private  and  confidential 
correspondence,  yet  entirely  avoiding  all  discourtesy 
to  the  Administration.  It  found  its  way,  however, 
into  the  public  press,  and  was  made  the  justification  for 


368  HIS    LETTER    TO    GENERAL    GAINE3. 

reviving  an  obsolete  army  regulation,  designed  to  pro 
hibit  officers  and  soldiers  in  the  United  States  service 
from  writing  letters  for  publication,  detailing  the  move 
ments  of  our  army,  in  time  of  war.  This  was  under 
stood  to  be  designed  as  a  still  further  censure  upon 
General  Taylor;  and  this  impression  was  confirmed 
by  the  consideration,  that  a  slip  containing  the  letter 
to  General  Gaines  was  forwarded  to  him  by  the  Pres 
ident  together  with  the  order  reviving  the  army  regu 
lation  in  question.  This  implied,  if  not  direct,  censure 
for  an  act  so  unobjectionable  in  itself  as  writing  a  pri 
vate  letter  of  the  character  of  the  one  to  General 
Gaines,  drew  from  General  Taylor  the  following  char 
acteristic  reply  to  Honorable  Wm.  L.  Marcy,  Secre 
tary  of  War,  which  was  transmitted  to  the  United 
States  House  of  Representatives,  in  accordance  with  a 
resolution  of  that  body,  calling  upon  the  President  for 
the  correspondence.  The  letter  is  written  in  that  bold, 
manly,  and  independent  tone,  and  vigor  of  style,  for 
which  all  his  correspondence  is  so  remarkable.  It  dis 
plays  a  consciousness  of  rectitude,  and  an  honesty  and 
purity  of  purpose,  which,  aside  from  its  unanswerable 
defence  of  his  conduct,  must  carry  conviction  to  every 
candid  mind.  It  is  dated  Head  Quarters,  Army  of 
Occupation,  Agua  Neuva,  March  3d,  1847,  but  was 
not  published  until  the  February  ensuing,  and  is  as 
follows : 

"  I  have  the  honor  to  receive  your  communication  of 
January  27,  enclosing  a  newspaper  slip,  and  express 
ing  the  regret  of  the  Department  that  the  letter  copied 
in  that  slip,  and  which  was  addressed  by  myself  to 
Major  Gen.  Gaines,  should  have  been  published.  Al 
though  your  letter  does  not  convey  the  direct  censure 
of  the  Department  and  the  President ;  yet,  when  it  was 


LETTER    TO    MR.    MARCY.  369 

taken  in  connection  with  the  revival  of  the  paragraph 
in. the  regulations  of  1825,  touching  the  publication  of 
private  letters  concerning  operations  in  the  field,  I  am 
not  permitted  to  doubt  that  I  have  become  a  subject 
of  Executive  disapprobation.  To  any  expression  of  it, 
coming  with  the  authority  of  the  President,  I  am  bound 
by  my  duty  and  by  respect  for  his  high  office,  patient 
ly  to  submit ;  but  lest  my  silence  should  be  construed 
into  a  tacit  admission  of  the  grounds  and  conclusions 
set  forth  in  your  communication,  I  deem  it  a  duty 
which  I  owe  to  myself,  to  submit  a  few  remarks  in 
reply. 

"  I  shall  be  pardoned  for  speaking  plainly.  In  the 
first  place,  the  published  letter  bears  upon  its  face  the 
most  conclusive  evidence  that  it  was  intended  only  for 
private  perusal,  and  not  at  all  for  publication.  It  was 
published  without  my  knowledge  and  contrary  to  my 
wishes.  Surely,  I  need  not  say  that  I  am  not  in  the 
habit  of  writing  for  the  newspapers.  The  letter  was 
a  familiar  one,  written  to  an  old  military  friend,  with 
whom  I  have  been  for  many  years  interchanging  opin 
ions  on*  professional  subjects.  That  he  should  think 
proper,  under  any  circumstances,  to  publish  it,  could 
not  have  been  foreseen  by  me.  In  the  absence  of  proof 
that  the  publication  was  made  without  my  knowledge, 
I  may  be  permitted  to  say,  the  quotation  of  your  letter 
of  the  650th  paragraph  of  the  superseded  regulations  of 
1825,  in  which  the  terms  'mischievous  and  disgraceful' 
are  employed  to  characterize  certain  letters  or  reports, 
conveys,  though  not  openly,  a  measure  of  rebuke,  which 
to  say  the  least,  is  rather  harsh,  and  which  many  think 
not  warranted  by  the  premises. 

"  Again,  I  have  carefully  examined  the  letter  in 
question,  and  I  do  not  admit  that  it  is  obnoxious  to 
16* 


370  HIS    MANLY    DEFENCE. 

the  objections  urged  in  your  communication.  I  see 
nothing  in  it  which,  under  the  same  circumstances,  I 
would  not  write  again.  To  suppose  that  it  will  give 
the  enemy  valuable  information  touching  our  posts  or 
respective  line  of  operations,  is  to  know  very  little  of 
the  Mexican  sources  of  information,  or  of  their  extraor 
dinary  sagacity  and  facilities  in  keeping  constantly 
apprized  of  our  movements.  As  to  my  particular  views 
in  regard  to  the  general  policy  to  be  pursued  towards 
Mexico,  I  perceive  from  the  public  journals  that  they 
are  shared  by  many  distinguished  statesmen;  also,  in 
part,  by  conspicuous  officers  of  the  navy,  the  publica 
tion  of  whose  opinions  is  not,  perhaps,  obstructed  by 
any  regulations  of  the  department.  It  is  difficult,  then, 
to  imagine  how  the  diffusion  of  mine  can  render  .any 
peculiar  aid  to  the  enemy,  or  especially  disincline  him 
to  enter  into  negotiations  for  peace. 

"  In  conclusion,  I  would  say,  it  has  given  me  great 
pain  to  be  brought  into  the  position  in  which  I  now 
find  myself  in  regard  to  the  department  of  war,  and 
the  government.  It  has  not  been  of  my  own  seeking. 
To  the  extent  of  my  abilities  and  the  means  placed  at 
my  disposal,  I  have  sought  faithfully  to  serve  the  coun 
try,  by  carrying  out  the  rules  and  instructions  of  the 
Executive  ;  but  it  cannot  be  concealed,  that  since  the 
capitulation  of  Monterey,  the  confidence  of  the  depart 
ment,  and,  I  too  much  fear,  of  the  President,  has  been 
gradually  withdrawing,  and  my  consideration  and  use 
fulness  correspondingly  diminished.  The  apparent 
determination  of  the  department  to  place  me  in  an 
attitude  antagonistical  to  the  government,  has  an  apt 
illustration  in  the  well-known  fable  of  ^Esop.  I  ask  no 
favor,  and  I  shrink  from  no  responsibility,  while  entrust 
ed  with  the  command  in  this  quarter.  I  shall  continue 


WITHDRAWAL    FROM    MEXICO.  371 

to  devote  all  my  energies  to  the  public  good,  looking 
for  my  reward  to  the  conscientiousness  of  pure  motives, 
and  to  the  h'nal  verdict  of  impartial  history." 

Having  obtained  leave  from  his  government  to  return 
to  the  United  States,  General  Taylor,  early  in  Novem 
ber  took  his  departure  from  Monterey.  His  separation 
from  his  brothers  in  arms — from  those  who  had  shared 
with  him  so  many  hardships  and  dangers,  and  whose 
brilliant  achievements  had  reflected  so  much  glory 
upon  themselves  and  their  country,  was  deeply  inter 
esting  and  affecting.  Soldiers  as  well  as  officers  shared 
equally  in  the  feelings  of  regret  which  he  himself  ex 
perienced  upon  relinquishing  his  command  of  the  noble 
little  army  whose  gallantry  had  filled  the  world  with 
its  fame. 

He  had,  from  the  day  he  took  command  of  the  army 
of  occupation  until  the  final  and  most  glorious  of  his 
military  achievements  at  Buena  Vista,  shared  every 
privation  atfd  participated  in  every  danger,  with  the 
common  soldier.  He  required  no  service  from  them 
that  he  was  not  willing  to  participate  in,  and  had 
proved  to  them  by  his  whole  life  that  he  never  lost 
sight  of  their  interests,  nor  ever  wantonly  disregarded 
their  feelings.  By  this  constant  paternal  solicitude  for 
their  welfare,  so  far  as  the  nature  of  the  service  and 
the  interests  of  the  country  would  permit,  he  had 
warmly  attached  to  him  every  soldier  as  well  as  every 
officer  under  his  command,  and  had  inspired  so  much 
confidence  by  his  disinterested  acts  of  kindness,  his 
coolness,  self-possession  and  firmness  under  all  circum 
stances,  that  his  final  separation  from  them  was  more 
like  that  of  a  kind  parent  taking  leave  of  his  family, 
than  a  great  and  successful  general  bidding  farewell 
to  his  soldiers. 


372  ATTACHMENT    OF    HIS    SOLDIERS. 

The  same  feeling  of  attachment  and  regret  on  the 
part  of  the  army,  and  of  warm  sympathy  on  the  part 
of  General  Taylor,  were  shown  upon  his  arrival  at  Ma- 
tamoras,  where  there  were  still  stationed  a  detachment 
of  American  forces.  He  remained  at  this  post  a  day 
or  two  previous  to  his  final  withdrawal  from  his  com 
mand  in  Mexico,  during  which  time  he  reviewed  the 
troops  there,  and  issued  such  orders  and  made  such 
preparations  as  the  exigencies  of  the  case  and  the  safety 
of  his  conquests  seemed  to  require.  After  making  these 
necessary  arrangements  he  took  his  departure  for  the 
United  States,  and  arrived  at  his  residence  in  Baton 
Rouge  towards  the  last  of  November,  1847. 

There  are  few  military  chiefs,  perhaps  none,  in  any 
age  or  any  country,  with  the  exception  of  THE  FATHER 
OF.  HLS  COUNTRY,  who  had  acquired  so  deep  a  hold  upon 
the  hearts  of  his  soldiers  as  General  Taylor  had  upon 
those  whom  it  was  his  happy  fortune  to  command,  in 
his  brilliant  campaign  against  Mexico.  In  thus  uniting 
all  hearts  to  him  in  the  midst  of  the  necessarily  rigor 
ous  discipline  of  the  camp  during  an  active  campaign 
in  the  heart  of  an  enemy's  country,  he  displayed  no 
less  the  characteristics  of  a  great  genera],  than  he  did 
by  his  consummate  skill,  his  remarkable  prudence,  his 
great  bravery  and  astonishing  coolness  and  self-reli 
ance  in  the  hour  of  danger.  Indeed,  his  success  as  a 
commander  resulted  as  much  from  the  implicit  confi 
dence  and  deep-rooted  attachment  he  was  so  wonder 
ful  for  inspiring  amongst  his  troops,  as  it  did  from  his 
own  great  talents.  Though  with  mere  military  skill 
and  ability,  he  might  have  exacted  strict  obedience 
from  his  soldiers,  and  under  the  force  of  a  rigid  disci 
pline,  they  might  have  fought  bravely  and  obstinately, 
yet  without  the  confidence  and  esteem  which  he  never 


ARRIVAL    IN    THE    UNITED    STATES.  373 

failed  to  inspire,  they  never  would  have  shown  the 
same  cheerful  promptness  to  die  rather  than  yield,  at 
his  command. 

Upon  General  Taylor's  arrival  in  the  United  States, 
he  was  everywhere  received  with  the  most  remarka 
ble  popular  demonstrations  that  ever  before  greeted  an 
American  commander,  since  the  days  of  Washington. 
His  grateful  countrymen,  wherever  he  made  his  ap: 
pearance,  w7ere  assembled  in  immense  multitudes,  to 
welcome  his  return,  and  to  evince  their  gratitude  for 
his  brilliant  services,  as  well  as  to  attest  the  high  re 
spect  his  private  virtues  and  his  lofty  bearing  as  a  man? 
no  less  than  as  a  general,  had  inspired.  Public  bodies, 
too,  as  well  as  the  people  at  large,  vied  with  each  other 
in  doing  honor  to  the  hero  of  Mexico.  Invitations 
from  town,  city  and  State  authorities,  were  showered 
upon  him  from  every  quarter,  pressing  him  to  visit 
their  States.  With  the  modesty  and  refined  taste 
which  had  so  distinguished  his  whole  life,  however,  he 
declined  all,  or  nearly  all,  these  intended  civilities,  pre 
ferring  the  comparative  seclusion  and  pleasures  of  his 
own  quiet  home,  to  all  the  honors  that  had  been  so 
liberally  tendered  him. 

New  Orleans  was  made  an  exception  to  this  studied 
determination  to  avoid  all  public  receptions  and  dis 
play,  and  there  he  was  received  with  the  most  enthu 
siastic  demonstration,  by  a  public  procession,  bonfires, 
and  other  evidences  of  popular  feeling.  At  a  casual 
visit  to  Pas  Christian,  too.  he  was  received  by  a  public 
welcome  and  address.  On  this  occasion,  he  replied  in 
a  neat  and  feeling  speech,  which  does  so  much  honor 
to  his  heart  that  an  extract  is  here  given : 

"  Sir,  I  find  myself  overwhelmed  with  emotions  that 
defy  expression  on  this  occasion.  In  tendering  to  me 


374  HIS    RECEPTION    THERE. 

the  hospitalities  of  the  residents  of  Pas  Christian,  per 
manent  as  well  as  temporary*  you  have  been  pleased  to 
allude  in  flattering  terms  to  my  career  in  Mexico.  I 
lay  no  claim  to  praise  for  the  success  which  crowned 
my  exertions  in  the  trying  and  sanguinary  struggles  in 
which  it  was  my  lot  to  be  engaged,  between  the  forces 
under  my  command  and  the  common  enemy  of  my 
country.  I  but  tried  .to  discharge  my  duty  to  that 
country,  whose  servant  I  was  proud  to  be.  Sir,  the 
manner  in  which  you  have  alluded  to  my  brothers  in 
arms,  on  both  lines  of  our  army,  has  filled  my  heart 
with  gratitude,  and  my  eyes  with  tears.  It  was  not 
due  to  me  that  the  enemy  with  which  I  contended  was 
vanquished,  but  to  the  brave  soldiers  that  stood  by  and 
sustained  me  in  times  of  peril.  To  them  belongs  the 
glory,  and  to  them  I  frankly  yield  all  claim  to  the  lau 
rels  that  adorn  their  brows. 

"  Sir,  I  feel  sensibly  the  kindness  and  honor  done  me 
this  night ;  and  while  I  cannot  command  language 
suitable  to  express  my  emotions,  I  beg  to  thank  you 
and  my  friends  around  me  for  such  a  flattering  mani 
festation." 

With  the  exception  of  an  occasional  visit  to  New 
Orleans,  on  business  connected  with  his  long-neglected 
private  affairs,  he  confined  himself  closely  to  Baton 
Rouge.  Here  he  seemed  to  be  as  little  disturbed  by  the 
enthusiasm  his  name  had  excited  throughout  the  Union, 
and  the  renown  which  his  achievements  had  won  him 
throughout  Europe,  as  the  most  indifferent  spectator. 
General  Taylor  of  course  was  not  insensible  to  these 
evidences  of  the  admiration  and  respect  of  his  country 
men.  He  would  have  been  more  or  less  than  human, 
if  he  were.  But  they  did  not  unsettle  his  well-regu 
lated  and  thoroughly  disciplined  mind.  He  was  none 


HIS    DESIRE    FOR    RETIREMENT.  375 

the  less  grateful  for  them,  because  he  did  not  permit 
them  to  turn  him  aside  from  that  course  of  strict  pro 
priety  and  manly  bearing  which  had  been  so  admirable 
and  striking  a  feature  of  his  character  during  his  forty 
years  of  public  life.  lie  was  the  same  plain,  unassum 
ing,  dignified  gentleman,  now  that  the  land  rung  with 
his  praises,  that  he  was  when  his  name,  but  a  few 
months  before,  was  scarcely  kno^wn  beyond  the  limits 
of  his  own  State.  In  this,  too,  he  displayed  the  ele 
ments  of  a  great  and  noble  mind.  But  General  Taylor 
was  not  destined  long  to  remain  in  retirement. 

Immediately  after  the  battles  of  Palo  Alto  and  Re- 
saca  de  la  Palma,  his  name  began  to  be  mentioned  in 
connection  with  the  Presidential  question,  in  different 
parts  of  the  Union,  and  as  early  as  the  June  or  July 
following  those  brilliant  victories,  he  was  formally 
nominated  for  the  Presidency  by  a  meeting  of  the  peo 
ple,  irrespective  of  party  politics,  held  at  Newark,  New 
Jersey.  This  movement  was  soon  imitated  by  the 
people  in  other  sections  of  the  country ;  and  as  the 
splendor  of  his  subsequent  achievements  at  Monterey 
and  Buena  Vista  reached  the  United  States,  they  be 
came  more  general.  Nearly  or  quite  up  to  the  time  of 
his  departure  from  Mexico,  these  nominations  had  been 
tendered  him  almost  indiscriminately  by  Whigs,  Demo 
crats,  and  Independents.  Though  it  was  well  under 
stood  by  the  intimate  personal  friends  of  General  Tay 
lor  that  his  political  predilections  were  moderately  but 
decidedly  Whig,  yet,  from  the  nature  of  his  profession, 
he  had  necessarily  become  so  little  identified  with 
either  of  the  parties  of  the  country,  that  his  views  upon 
the  various  questions  of  national  policy  which  divided 
the  people,  were  comparatively  but  very  little  known 
to  the  American  people  at  large.  It  is  not  singular 


376  HIS    POLITICAL    SENTIMENTS. 

therefore,  that  all  parties  should  have  sought  to  avail 
themselves  of  his  great  and  growing  popularity,  and 
that  he  should  have  heen  nominated  not  only  by  in 
dependent  bodies  of  the  people,  but  by  regularly  or 
ganized  county  and  State  conventions,  and  legislative 
caucuses  in  several  of  the  States.  There  seemed,  in 
deed,  to  be  almost  one  universal  voice  from  one  end  of 
the  Union  to  the  otfoer  in  favor  of  his  nomination  ; 
and  numerous  letters  were  addressed  to  him  in  Mexico, 
by  individuals  and  public  meetings,  urging  upon  him 
the  acceptance  of  a  nomination  for  the  Presidency. 
Although  a  formal  reply  to  all  of  these  letters  imposed 
upon  him  an  amount  of  labor  that  few  men  in  his  po 
sition,  and  with  the  great  responsibilities  it  necessarily 
devolved  upon  him,  could  have  performed,  he  replied 
to  them  with  that  directness  and  candor  which  was  so 
peculiar  a  part  of  his  character.  In  these  replies,  he 
frankly  avowed  himself  a  Whig,  whenever  circumstan 
ces  seemed  to  require  or  justify  a  declaration  of  his 
political  sentiments.  One  of  the  earliest,  and  indeed 
the  first  of  his  letters  on  the  Presidential  question,  is 
annexed,  as  an  illustration  of  his  manly  frankness,  as 
well  as  to  show  the  political  bias  of  his  mind.  It  was 
addressed  to  the  Editor  of  the  New  Lisbon,  (Ohio,) 
Palladium,  and  was  written  at  Matamoras,  but  little 
more  than  two  months  after  his  victories  on  the  Rio 
Grande. 

HEADQUARTERS,  ARMY  OF  OCCUPATION,  ) 
Matamoras,  July  21,  1846.  J 

DEAR  SIR  : — By  yesterday's  mail,  I  received  your 
letter  of  the  19th  June,  and  have  given  the  subject  to 
which  it  refers  some  serious  reflection  and  considera 
tion.  I  feel  very  grateful  to  you,  sir,  and  to  my  fellow- 
citizens,  who  with  you  have  expressed  the  very  flat- 


FIRST    LETTER    ON    THE    PRESIDENCY.  377 

tering  desire  to  place  my  name  in  nomination  for  the 
Presidency,  but  it  becomes  me  sincerely  and  frankly 
to  acknowledge  to  you  that  for  that  office  I  have  no 
aspirations  whatever.  Although  no  politician,  having 
always  held  myself  aloof  from  the  clamors  of  party 
politics,  I  am  a  Whig,  and  shall  ever  be  devoted  in 
individual  opinion  to  that  party. 

Even  if  the  subject  which  you  have  in  your  letter 
opened  to  me,  were  acceptable  at  any  time,  I  have  not 
the  leisure  to  attend  to  it  now :  the  vigorous  prosecu 
tion  of  the  war  with  Mexico,  so  important  to  the  in 
terests  of  my  country,  demands  every  moment  of  my 
present  time,  and  it  is  my  great  desire  to  bring  it  to  a 
speedy  and  honorable  termination. 

With  my  best  wishes  for  your  health  and  prosperity, 
I  am  sincerely  yours,  Z.  TAYLOR, 

Major  General  U.  S.  A. 

There  are  no  concealments  in  this  letter.  He  states 
with  his  accustomed  frankness  that  he  is  a  Whig  in 
principle,  and  shall  ever  be  devoted  in  individual 
opinion  to  that  party.  This  explicit  avowal,  it  would 
naturally  have  been  supposed,  Would  have  left  no  one 
in  doubt  in  respect  to  his  political  sentiments.  Yet 
such  was  not  its  effect.  Wide-spread  and  general  as 
the  determination  amongst  the  people  to  make  him  a 
candidate  for  the  Presidency  evidently  was  before  his 
return  from  Mexico,  that  determination  was  strength 
ened  by  his  arrival  in  the  United  States.  The  enthu 
siasm  which  before  seemed  to  have  reached  its  highest 
point,  was  greatly  increased  by  this  event,  and  it  soon 
became  apparent  amongst  leading  Whig  politicians  in 
different  parts  of  the  country,  that  he  not  only  would 
become  a  candidate,  but  that  no  other  name  could  be 
brought  forward  with  equal  chances  of  success.  ,It  is 


26 


378  .  HIS    NATIONAL    CHARACTER. 

true,  there  was  a  strong  opposition  to  him  in  several 
of  the  free  States,  principally  on  the  ground  of  his  sup 
posed  prejudices  in  favor  of  the  institution  of  Slavery. 
But  though  he  was  a  Southern  man  by  birth  and  edu 
cation,  he  had  given  evidence  by  his  life  and  public 
services,  and  inspired  sufficient  confidence  by  his  en 
larged  and  liberal  mind,  as  well  as  by  his  hi^rh  charac 
ter,  that  he  was  an  American  in  feeling — that  his  views 
were  not  circumscribed  by  mere  State  or  sectional 
boundaries,  and  that  if  called  to  preside  over  the  des 
tinies  of  the  nation,  he  would  be  the  President  of  the 
whole  people.  There  were  again  another  class,  also 
confined  principally  to  the  Xorth  and  to  the  Whig 
party,  who  seemed  to  entertain  doubts  upon  the  policy 
of  nominating  General  Taylor,  on  the  ground  that  he 
was  not  known,  or  believed  by  them  not  to  be  strongly 
enough  identified  with  the  principles  and  policy  of  the 
Whig  party.  The  evidences  of  his  decided  Whig 
preferences  multiplied  so  rapidly  during  the  progress 
of  the  Presidential  canvass,  that  these  doubts,  in  a  great 
measure,  gradually  wore  away.  But  in  proportion  as 
the  knowledge  of  his  Whig  predilections  lessened  op 
position  from  that  quarter,  it  increased  amongst  the 
Democratic  party,  until  he  was  finally  abandoned  as 
a  candidate  by  the  Democrats  in  every  instance  where 
he  had  been  formally  nominated ;  and  all  intention  of 
making  him  the  Democratic  nominee  was  relinquished 
Jong  before  the  time  for  selecting  a  candidate  had  ar 
rived.  General  Taylor,  therefore,  in  the  end,  became 
to  be  only  urged  as  a  candidate  by  members  of  the 
Whig  party,  and  by  one  or  two  independent  organiza 
tions  in  particular  States. 

Many  letters  from  General  Taylor  upon  the  subject 
of  the  Presidency  had  in  the  mean  time  been  publish- 


TAYLORS    POLITICAL    POSITION.  379 

ed,  each  of  which  contributed  more  or  less  to  change, 
in  some  degree,  his  relation  to  the  two  great  parties 
of*  the  country.  Amongst  others  which  had  an  impor 
tant  influence  upon  the  public  mind,  was  one  written 
at  an  early  stage  of  the  canvass  to  the  Hon.  Joseph 
R.  Ingersoll,  a  distinguished  member  of  Congress  from 
Pennsylvania,  but  the  explicit  avowals  of  which,  in 
regard  to  his  political  opinions,  had  been  nearly  lost 
sight  of  until  General  Taylor's  prominence  as  a  can 
didate,  and  the  doubts  already  mentioned  in  relation 
to  his  political  preferences,  were  the  cause  of  bringing 
it  again  more  directly  before  the  public.  It  is  here 
placed  on  record  as  the  most  direct  avowal  of  his  prin 
ciples  that  had  yet  been  ma  !e  public,  and  the  most 
explicit  expression  of  his  views  and  feelings  upon  the 
possible  contingency  of  becoming  a  candidate  for  the 
Presidency.  The  same  generous  frankness  and  shrink 
ing  modesty,  (if  such  a  term  may  be  applied  to  a  man 
of  General  Taylor's  character,)  that  so  pre-eminently 
distinguish  all  his  official  despatches,  will  be  remarked 
in  every  sentence.  It  was  written  at  Monterey,  three 
months  before  his  withdrawal  from  the  army  in  Mexico, 
and  bears  evidence  of  the  freedom  of  a  confidential 
correspondence.  But  it  nevertheless  displays  the  sen 
timents  of  a  sound  head,  an  honest  heart,  and  a  great 
mind. 

MONTEREY,  MEXICO,  August  3d,  1847. 

DEAR  SIR  : — I  have  the  pleasure  to  acknowledge  the 
receipt  of  your  esteemed  letter  of  the  7th  ult.,  which 
has  just  reached  me,  in  which  you  say  : 

"  I  had  the  honor  of  being  called  upon  last  evening 
to  address  a  mass  meeting  of  the  Whigs  of  the  city  and 
county  of  Philadelphia.  At  that  meeting,  your  name 
was  frequently  mentioned  in  connection  with  the  office 


380  HIS    LETTER    TO    INGER90LL. 

of  chief  magistrate.  I  stated  in  that  meeting,  as  I  had 
before  stated  in  my  place  in  the  House  of  Representa 
tives  at  Washington,  that  you  were  a  Whig ;  not  in 
deed  an  ultra  partisan  Whig,  but  a  Whig  in  principle." 

All  of  which  is  entirely  correct ;  and  after  the  dis 
cussion  which  occurred  in  both  Houses  of  Congress, 
at  the  last  session,  growing  out  of  the  capitulation  of 
Monterey,  in  which  discussion  you  thought  proper  to 
defend  my  conduct  in  regard  to  that  transaction,  when 
assailed  somewhat,  if  not  entirely,  on  party  grounds, 
I  can  hardly  imagine  how  any  one  who  was  present 
and  heard  the  speeches  on  that  occasion,  or  read  them 
after  they  were  published,  could  well  mistake  the  com 
plexion  of  my  politics.  At  the  last  Presidential  can 
vass,  it  wras  well  known  to  all  with  whom  I  mixed, 
Whigs  and  Democrats — for  I  had  no  concealments  in 
the  matter — that  I  was  decidedly  in  favor  of  Mr.  Clay's 
election,  and  would  now  prefer  seeing  him  in  that 
office  to  any  individual  in  the  Union. 

I  must  say,  I  have  no  wish  for  the  Presidency,  and 
cannot  consent  to  be  exclusively  the  candidate  of  a 
party ;  and  if  I  am  one  at  all,  or  to  be  so  at  the  coming 
election,  it  must  be  borne  in  mind  that  I  have  been,  or 
will  be  so  by  others,  without  any  agency  of  mine  in  the 
matter.  Independent  of  my  wishes,  I- greatly  doubt  my 
qualifications  to  discharge  the  duties  properly  of  an 
office  which  was  filled  and  adorned  by  a  Washington, 
a  Jefferson,  as  well  as  several  others  of  the  purest, 
wisest,  and  most  accomplished  statesmen  and  patriots 
of  this  or  any  other  age  or  country.  I  almost  tremble 
at  the  thoughts  of  the  undertaking.  Yet  if  the  good 
people  think  proper  to  elevate  me,  at  the  proper  time, 
to  the  highest  office  in  their  gift,  I  will  feel  bound  to 
serve  them,  if  not  from  inclination,  from  a  principle  of 


DISTRUSTS    HIS    ABILITIES.  381 

duty ;  and  will  do  so  honestly  and  faithfully,  to  the 
best  of  my  ability,  in  accordance  with  the  principles 
of  the  Constitution,  as  near  as  I  can  do  so,  as  it  was 
construed  and  acted  on  by  our  Presidents,  two  of 
whom,  at  least,  acted  so  conspicuous  a  part  in  framing 
and  completing  that  instrument,  as  well  as  in  putting 
it  in  operation. 

But  very  many  important  changes  may  take  place  at 
home  and  abroad,  between  now  and  the  time  for  ho-ld- 
ing  the  election  for  our  next  Chief  Magistrate — so 
much  so,  as  to  make  it  desirable,  for  the  general  good, 
that  some  one  with  more  experience  in  state  affairs, 
should  be  selected  as  a  candidate,  than  myself.  And 
could  he  be  elected,  I  will  not  say  I  would  yield  my 
pretensions,  for  I  have  not  the  vanity  to  believe  I  have 
any  for  that  distinguished  station  ;  but  would  acquiesce 
not  only  with  pleasure  in  such  an  arrangement,  but 
would  rejoice  that  the  Republic  had  one  citizen  more 
worthy  and  better  acquainted  than  I  am,  to  discharge 
the  important  duties  appertaining  to  that  position  ;  and 
no  doubt  there  are  thousands.  Be  this  as  it  may,  if  I 
ever  occupy  the  White  House,  it  must  be  by  the  spon 
taneous  movement  of  the  people,  without  any  action  of 
mine  in  relation  to  it,  without  pledges  other  than  I  have 
previously  stated — a  strict  adherence  to  the  provisions 
of  the  Constitution,  so  I  could  enter  on  the  arduous  and 
responsible  duties  appertaining  to  said  office,  untram 
melled  ;  so  that  I  could  be  the  President  of  the  country, 
and  not  of  a  party. 

With  considerations  of  great  respect  and  esteem, 
I  am  your  obedient  servant, 

Z.  TAYLOR. 

To  J.  R.  IXGERSOLL,  Esq.,  Philadelphia. 

But  notwithstanding  all  thought  of  nominating  Gen- 


382  THE    FIRST    ALLISON    LETTER. 

eral  Taylor  had  been  abandoned  by  the  Democratic 
party,  and  it  had  been  conceded  on  every  side  that  he 
was  identified  in  principle  and  feeling  with  the  Whig 
party,  he  had  never  been  claimed  as  an  ultra  partisan. 
In  every  communication  he  had  made  to  the  public, 
upon  the  subject  of  the  Presidency,  he  uniformly  de 
clared,  that  though  a  Whig,  he  should,  if  elected,  go 
into  the  Presidential  chair  untrammelled  by  any  pledges 
whatever,  aud  must  be  permitted  to  maintain  a  position 
of  perfect  independence  of  all  parties,  claiming  to  look 
only  to  the  Constitution,  in  the  spirit  and  mode  in 
which  it  was  acted  upon  by  the  earlier  Presidents,  and 
the  best  interests  of  the  whole  country,  as  the  guide 
for  his  conduct.  An  admirable  and  comprehensive 
declaration  of  his  doctrines,  however,  and  the  princi 
ples  upon  which  he  should  administer  the  government, 
if  promoted  to  the  office  of  Chief  Magistrate  of  the 
nation,  is  contained  in  the  celebrated  '«  Allison  letter.'' 
The  sentiments  avowed  in  this  letter  are  such  as  would 
have  done  honor  to  the  noblest  patriot  of  the  Revolu 
tion,  and  it  embodies  as  perfect  a  political  chart  as  the 
wisdom  of  man  ever  devised.  If  the  doctrines  it  lays 
down  are  taken  as  his  political  guide,  as  the  lofty  char 
acter  General  Taylor  has  established  by  forty  years  of 
public  service  gives  assurance  they  will  be,  the  origi 
nal  purity  of  the  government  will  be  restored,  and  the 
"  golden  age"  of  the  Republic  will  date  from  his  inau 
guration  as  President  of  the  United  States,  on  the  fifth 
of  March,  eighteen  hundred  and  forty-nine.  The  fol 
lowing  is  a  copy  of  this  justly  admired  declaration  of 
principles : 

BATON  ROUGE,  April  12,  1848 

DEAR  SIR  : — My  opinions  have  so  often  been  been 
misconceived  and  misrepresented,  that  I  deem  it  due  to 


DECLINES    MAKING    PLEDGES. 

myself,  if  not  to  my  friends,  to  make  a  brief  exposi 
tion  of  them  upon  the  topics  to  which  you  have  called 
my  attention. 

I  have  consented  to  the-  use  of  my  name  as  a  candi 
date  for  the  Presidency.  I  have  frankly  avowed  my 
own  distrust  of  my  fitness  for  this  high  station ;  but 
having,  at  the  solicitation  of  many  of  my  countrymen, 
taken  my  position  as  a  candidate,  I  do  not  feel  at  liberty 
to  surrender  that  position  until  my  friends  manifest  a 
wish  that  I  should  retire  from  it.  I  will  then  most 
gladly  do  so.  I  have  no  private  purposes  to  accom 
plish,  no  party  projects  to  build  up,  no  enemies  to 
punish — nothing  to  serve  but  my  country. 

I  have  been  very  often  addressed  by  letter,  and  my 
opinions  have  been  asked  upon  almost  every  question 
that  might  occur  to  the  writers,  as  affecting  the  inter 
est  of  their  country  or  their  party.  I  have  not  always 
responded  to  these  inquiries,  for  various  reasons. 

I  confess,  while  I  have  great  cardinal  principles 
which  will  regulate  my  political  life,  I  am  not  sufficienly 
familiar  with  all  the  minute  details  of  political  legis 
lation  to  give  solemn  pledges  to  exert  myself  to  carry 
out  this,  or  defeat  that  measure.  I  have  no  conceal 
ment.  I  hold  no  opinion  which  I  would  not  readily 
proclaim  to  my  assembled  countrymen ;  but  crude  im 
pressions  upon  matters  of  policy,  which  may  be  right 
to-day  and  wrong  to-morrow,  are  perhaps  not  the  best 
tests  of  fitness  for  office.  One  who  cannot  be  trusted 
without  pledges,  cannot  be  confided  in  merely  on  ac 
count  of  them. 

I  will  proceed,  however,  now  to  respond  to  your  in 
quiries. 

First — I  reiterate  what  I  have  so  often  said  :  I  am  a 
Whig.  If  elected,  I  would  not  be  the  mere  President 


384  HIS    VIEWS    OF    THE    VETO    POWER. 

of  a  party.  I  would  endeavor  to  act  independent  of 
party  domination.  I  should  feel  bound  to  administer 
the  government  untrammelled  by  party  schemes. 

Second — The  veto  power.  The  power  given  by 
the  Constitution  to  the  Executive  to  interpose  his  veto, 
is  a  high  conservative  power;  but  in  my  opinion  should 
never  be  exercised,  except  in  cases  of  clear  violation  of 
the  Constitution,  or  manifest  haste  and  want  of  consid 
eration  by  Congress.  Indeed,  I  have  thought  that  for 
many  years  past,  the  known  opinions  and  wishes  of 
the  Executive  have  exercised  an  undue  -and  injurious 
influence  upon  the  legislative  department  of  the  gov 
ernment  ;  and  for  this  cause  I  have  thought  our  system 
was  in  danger  of  undergoing  a  great  change  from  its 
true  theory.  The  personal  opinions  of  the  individual 
who  may  happen  to  occupy  the  Executive  chair,  ought 
not  to  control  the  action  of  Congress  upon  questions 
of  domestic  policy ;  nor  ought  his  objections  to  be  in 
terposed  where  questions  of  constitutional  power  have 
been  settled  by  the  various  departments  of  government, 
and  acquiesced  in  by  the  people. 

Third — Upon  the  subject  of  the  tariff,  the  currency, 
the  improvement  of  our  great  highways,  rivers,  lakes, 
and  harbors,  the  will  of  the  people,  as  expressed  through 
their  representatives  in  Congress,  ought  to  be  respected 
and  carried  out  by  the  Executive. 

Fourth — The  Mexican  war.  I  sincerely  rejoice  at 
the  prospect  of  peace.  My  life  has  been  devoted  to 
arms,  yet  I  look  upon  war,  at  all  times  and  under  all 
circumstances,  as  a  national  calamity,  to  be  avoided 
if  compatible  with  the  national  honor.  The  principles 
of  our  government,  as  well  as  its  true  policy,  is  opposed 
to  the  subjugation  of  other  nations  and  the  dismember 
ment  of  other  countries  by  conquest.  In  the  language 


ACQUIESCENCE  IN  THE  WILL  OF  THE  PEOPLE.   385 

of  the  great  Washington,  ';  Why  should  we  quit  our 
own  to  stand  on  foreign  ground  ?  In  the  Mexican  war 
our  national  honor  has  been  vindicated  ;  and  in  dictat 
ing  terms  of  peace,  we  may  well  afford  to  be  forbearing 
and  magnanimous  to  a  fallen  foe. 

These  are  my  opinions  on  the  subjects  referred  to  by 
you,  and  any  reports  or  publications,  written  or  verbal, 
from  any  source,  differing  in  any  essential  particular 
from  what  is  here  written,  are  unauthorized  and  un 
true. 

I  do  not  know  that  I  shall  again  write  upon  the  sub 
ject  of  national  politics.  I  shall  engage  in  no  schemes, 
no  combinations,  no  intrigues.  If  the  American  peo 
ple  have  not  confidence  in  me,  they  ought  not  to  give 
me  their  suffrages.  If  they  do  not,  you  know  me  well 
enough  to  believe  me,  when  I  declare  I  shall  be  con 
tent.  I  am  too  old  a  soldier  to  murmur  against  such 
high  authority.  Z.  TAYLOR. 

To  CAPT.  J.  S.  ALLISON. 

17 


CHAPTER  X. 

Meeting  of  the  Whig  National  Convention — Judge  Saunders'  Statement 
— Gen.  Taylor's  Nomination — The  Vote  in  the  Convention — His  Letter 
of  Acceptance — His  Nomination  by  the  Charleston  Meeting — His 
Second  Allison  Letter — His  Election — Vote  of  the  different  States — 
His  Departure  for  Washington — Order  announcing  his  final  With 
drawal  from  the  Military  Service — His  Reception  during  his  Journey 
— Conclusion. 

IT  had  become  the  settled  policy  of  the  Whig,  as 
well  as  the  Democratic  party,  since  1839,  when  the 
first  Whig  National  Convention  was  held  at  Harris- 
burgh,  to  decide  the  claims  of  the  different  candidates 
for  the  Presidency  by  that  agency.  In  the  opinion  of 
many  of  General  Taylor's  friends,  however,  it  was  be 
lieved  that  the  necessity  for  a  National  Convention  had 
been  obviated  by  the  nominations  he  had  received  from 
the  people  in  primary  meetings,  and  through  county, 
State  and  Legislative  conventions  and  caucuses.  But 
it  was  contended,  on  the  other  hand,  that  the  usual 
mode  of  selecting  a  candidate  should  be  observed,  even 
though  it  should  be  conceded  that  General  Taylor  was 
the  choice  of  a  large  portion  of  the  Whig  party,  and 
had  virtually  been  nominated  by  the  people  in  their 
primary  capacity.  It  was  claimed  that  the  unity  of 
the  Whig  party  would  thus  be  preserved,  and  all  cause 
for  declining  to  yield  to  him  a  cordial  support  by  those 
who  preferred  another  candidate,  effectually  removed. 


A    NATIONAL    CONVENTION    CALLED.  387 

The  Whig  members  of  Congress,  upon  whom  custom 
had  imposed  the  duty  of  deciding  on  the  propriety  of 
designating  a  Presidential  candidate  to  be  supported 
by  that  party,  in  the  usual  mode,  adopted  this  view  of 
the  question  ;  and  in  pursuance  with  this  determination 
they  adopted  a  resolution  during  the  session  of  1847-8, 
with  much  unanimity,  that  a  National  Convention 
should  be  held  at  Philadelphia  on  the  7th  day  of  June, 
1848,  for  the  purpose  of  nominating  a  candidate  to  be 
supported  by  the  Whig  party  for  the  Presidency.  To 
this  decision  the  Whigs  in  every  part  of  the  Union 
yielded  their  ready  consent.  Accordingly,  on  the  day 
designated,  representatives  of  the  Whig  party  from 
every  State  in  the  Union,  assembled  at  Philadelphia, 
for  the  purpose  of  nominating  a  candidate  for  Presi 
dent. 

Coming,  as  these  Representatives  did,  from  every 
part  of  our  vast  Confederacy,  and  representing,  as 
they  were  bound  to  do.  the  varied  interests,  views  and 
feelings  of  the  whole  Whig  people  of  the  nation,  it  was 
no  more  to  be  expected  that  there  should  have  been 
entire  harmony  and  unanimity  of  sentiment  amongst 
them,  upon  the  question  for  which  they  had  assembled, 
than  it  was  that  there  should  be  no  difference  of  opin 
ion  amongst  the  people  themselves  upon  the  same  sub 
ject.  Nor  is  it  desirable  that  it  should  be  otherwise. 
However  pure  may  be  the  character,  and  lofty  the 
patriotism  of  any  man,  it  is  far  better  that  his  claims 
and  qualifications  for  the  position  to  which  he  aspires, 
or  to  which  his  friends  would  elevate  him,  should  be 
closely  scrutinized  and  rigidly  canvassed.  This  pecu 
liar  characteristic  of  our  social  and  political  organiza 
tion,  is,  perhaps,  the  surest  guaranty  of  the  perpetuity 
of  our  institutions.  As  long  as  the  freedom  with 


388         GENERAL  TAYLOR'S  NOMINATION. 

which  the  characters  of  candidates  for  public  favor  is 
criticised,  does  not  degenerate  into  licentiousness,  its 
effect  will  be  salutary  to  the  public  morals. 

It  cannot  be  regretted,  therefore,  that  no  man  in  this 
Republic  should  ever  obtain  so  unlimited  a  hold  upon 
the  popular  feeling  as  to  place  him  beyond  the  reach 
of  all  competition,  either  for  the  Presidency  or  any 
other  office  under  our  government.  That  even  the 
popularity  of  General  Taylor,  unbounded  as  it  was, 
did  not  leave  him  without  a  rival  in  the  Presidential 
contest,  should  be  a  source  of  congratulation,  as  it 
illustrated  the  independent  character  of  the  American 
people. 

Besides  General  Taylor's,  the  names  of  General 
Scott,  Mr.  Clay  and  Mr.  Webster  were  submitted  to 
the  Convention.  Each  of  them  had  ardent,  influen 
tial,  and  numerous  friends  in  every  part  of  the  Union. 
Their  claims  had  been  warmly  urged  during  the  pro 
gress  of  the  canvass.  Their  long-tried,  patriotic  and 
faithful  public  services,  the  one  in  a  military  and  the 
others  in  civil  capacities,  had  inspired  public  confi 
dence,  and  attached  to  them  a  strong  body  of  zealous 
and  enthusiastic  personal  and  political  friends,  who 
adhered  to  them  through  every  change  of  fortune. 
Each  of  these  gentlemen  had  a  large  number  of  del 
egates  in  the  Convention,  who  pressed  their  claims 
with  zeal  and  ability.  On  the  first  ballot  Mr.  Clay  had 
97  votes,  General  Scott  43  votes,  Mr.  Webster  22  votes, 
and  6  scattering,  against  111  for  General  Taylor ;  and 
it  was  not  until  the  fourth  ballot  that  he  received  the 
nomination,  though  it  was  well  understood  from  the 
organization  of  the  Convention  that  he  must  ultimately 
be  its  choice.  The  vote  on  the  fourth  ballot  was  for 
General  Taylor  171,  for  Mr.  Clay  32,  for  General  Scott 


VOTE    OF    THE    STATES.  389 

63,  and  for  Mr.  Webster  13  ;  the  whole  number  of 
votes  cast  being  279,  and  necessary  for  a  choice  140. 
The  several  States  on  the  final  ballot  stood  as  follows: 

Maine — Taylor  5,  Scott  3.  Georgia — Taylor  10. 

K  Hamp.— Taylor  2,  Webster,  4.  Alabama— Taylor  6,  Clay  1. 

Verm. — Taylor  2,  Clay  2,  Scott  2.  Mississippi — Taylor  6. 

Massachusetts — Taylor  1,  Scott  2,  Louisiana — Taylor  6. 

Webster  9.  Texas— Taylor  4. 

Rhode  Island— Taylor  4.  Tennessee— Taylor  13. 

Connecticut— Taylor  3,  Clay  3.  Kentucky— Taylor  11,  Clay  1. 

New    Yor k— Taylor    6,   Clay    13,  Missouri— Taylor  7. 

Scott  17.  Ohio— Taylor  1,  Clay  1,  Scott  21. 

New  Jersey— Taylor  4rClay  3.  Ind.— Taylor  7,  Clay  1,  Scott  4. 

Pennsylvania — Taylor  12,  Clay  4,  Illinois — Taylor  8. 

Scott  10.  Michigan— Taylor  2;  Scott  3. 

Delaware— Taylor  2,  Scott  1.  Florida— Taylor  3. 

Maryland — Taylor  8.  Arkansas — Taylor  3. 

Virginia — Taylor  16,  Clay  1.  Wisconsin — Taylor  4. 

N.  Carolina — Taylor  10,  Clay  1.  Iowa — Taylor  4. 
S.  Carolina — Taylor  1,  Clay  1. 

General  Taylor's  nomination  had  been  opposed  by 
a  respectable  minority  of  the  Convention,  under  the 
apprehension  or  misapprehension  that  he  had  avowed 
his  determination  to  remain  a  candidate  for  the  Pres 
idency,  without  regard  to  the  action  of  a  Whig  Na 
tional  Convention.  This  consideration  influenced  the 
conduct  of  a  considerable  number  of  the  delegates  in 
the  Convention,  with  whom  otherwise  he  would  have 
been  the  first  choice,  besides  rendering  more  deter 
mined  the  opposition  of  those  whose  preferences  were  in 
favor  of  other  gentlemen.  This  error  in  regard  to  Gen. 
Taylor's  intentions  was  used  against  him  with  much 
force  ;  and  notwithstanding  the  proof  that  he  should 
cheerfully  acquiesce  in  the  decision  of  the  Convention, 
was  in  the  hands  of  one  of  its  members,  it  was  not 
publicly  used  to  disabuse  the  minds  of  ths  delegates 


390        MISAPPREHENSION    OF    TAYLOR*S    INTENTIONS. 

until  after  the  third  ballot.  Then,  however,  Judge 
Saunders,  one  of  the  delegates  from  Louisiana,  who  had 
in  his  possession  the  evidence  referred  to.  submitted  to 
the  Convention,  on  behalf  of  the  delegation  from  that 
State,  the  following  satisfactory  and  authentic  state 
ment  : 

"  The  position  occupied  by  General  Taylor  in  re 
lation  to  the  Presidency,  does  not  seem  to  be  correctly 
understood  by  many  persons,  and  for  that  reason  it 
is  deemed  proper,  by  the  delegation  of  Louisiana,  to 
make  such  explanation  and  statements  in  relation  to 
that  statesman  as  may  effectually  remove  all  doubt,  in 
the  efforts  at  misrepresentation  and  misapprehension 
on  that  point.  General  Taylor  has  taken  no  part  in 
bringing  his  name  before  the  American  people,  in  con 
nection  with  the  Presidency,  nor  does  he  present  his 
name  to  this  Convention  as  a  candidate.  His  friends 
throughout  the  country,  rather  discouraged  than  en 
couraged  by  him,  have  placed  him  prominently  before 
the  nation,  for  the  place  once  occupied  by  the  illustrious 
father  of  his  country ;  and  Gen.  Taylor  consents  to  the 
nomination.  He  considers  himself  in  the  hands  of  his 
friends,  who  have  honored  him  with  their  choice.  He 
has  publicly  and  repeatedly  stated  that  they  might 
withdraw  him  whenever  they  thought  that  the  inter 
ests  of  the  country  required  it.  He  does  not  consider 
that,  under  the  circumstances  in  which  his  name  had 
been  brought  forward,  it  would  be  proper  in  him  to 
withdraw  himself.  Such  has  been  his  position  since 
he  assented  to  the  use  of  his  name  subsequent  to  the 
capture  of  Monterey,  and  such  is  his  position  now. 
On  the  part  of  the  delegation  from  Louisiana,  1  will 
further  state,  that  General  Taylor  desires  it  to  be  un 
derstood,  that  in  his  opinion,  his  friends  who  came  into 


EFFECT    OF    JUDGE    SAUNDERs'    STATEMENT.       391 

the  Convention  are  bound  to  abide  by  its  decision,  and 
to  sustain  the  nominee,  heart  and  soul ;  that  General 
Taylor  recognizes,  in  his  friends  in  this  Convention, 
the  right  to  withdraw  his  name,  and  he  will  cheerfully 
acquiesce  in  such  withdrawal. 

'*  General  Taylor,  we  are  also  authorized  to  say,  will 
hail  with  entire  satisfaction  any  nomination  besides  him 
self,  being  persuaded  that  the  welfare  of  our  country 
requires  a  change  of  men  and  measures,  in  order  to 
arrest  the  downward  tendency  of  our  national  affairs. 
On  making  this  announcement,  the  delegates  of  Loui 
siana  wish  it  to  be  distinctly  understood  that  it  involves 
no  inconsistency  on  the  part  of  General  Taylor,  in  case 
the  choice  of  this  Convention  should  fall  on  another. 
If  General  Taylor's  friends  in  this  Convention  with 
draw  him,  it  will  be  their  act,  and  not  his;  and  by  the 
act  of  uniting  with  this  Convention,  his  friends  with 
draw  his  name  from  the  canvass,  unless  hs  be  the  nom 
inee  of  this  Convention  ;  and  we  deem  it  proper  to 
assure  the  Whigs  of  the  Union,  that  we  desire  the  nom 
ination  and  election  of  General  Taylor  to  the  Presi 
dency,  on  no  other  than  national  grounds." 

This  statement  mainly  removed  the  doubts  that  had, 
up  to  that  time,  existed,  in  some  quarters,  as  to  the 
policy  of  nominating  General  Taylor,  and  relieved  those 
who  had  honestly  opposed  him,  under  the  conviction 
that  whatever  might  be  the  conclusion  of  the  members 
of  the  Convention,  he  would  still  continue  a  candidate, 
from  much  of  the  embarrassment  in  which  they  were 
placed.  And  as  it  was  fully  and  unequivocally  sanc 
tioned  and  approved  by  General  Taylor  himself  shortly 
after,  all  candid  members  of  the  Whig  party,  in  every 
section  of  the  Union,  ceased  any  longer  to  urge  this 
objection  against  him. 


392  HIS    LETTER    OF    ACCEPTANCE. 

To  the  communication  of  the  Hon.  John  Morehead, 
President  of  the  National  Convention,  officially  inform 
ing  him  of  his  nomination  for  the  office  of  President, 
General  Taylor  returned  the  following  reply.  It  will 
be  seen,  that  after  expressing  his  gratitude  for  the  honor 
conferred  upon  him  by  the  Convention,  he  declared  his 
willingness  cordially  to  accept  the  nomination  tendered 
him  by  the  Whig  party,  as  their  candidate  in  the  coming 
contest,  though  he  modestly  expressed  his  distrust  of 
his  ability  properly  to  discharge  the  duties  of  the  office 
for  which  he  had  been  nominated.  But  should  he  be 
elected,  he  pledged  himself  to  use  his  best  efforts  to 
perform  the  duties  of  the  high  trust  conferred  upon 
him,  in  a  manner  that  should  meet  the  expectations  of 
the  people,  and  so  as  to  preserve  undiminished  the 
prosperity  and  reputation  of  the  country.  There  were 
undoubtedly  those  who  preferred  that  he  should  have 
laid  down  in  it  a  platform  of  Whig  principles.  But  to 
a  large  majority  of  the  Whig  party  it  was  received 
with  cordial  approval. 

BATON  ROUGE,  July  15th. 
HON.  JOHN  M.  MOREHEAD,  Green  sfcorough,  N.  C. 

SIR  : — I  had  the  honor  to  receive  your  communica 
tion  of  June  10th,  announcing  that  the  Whig  Conven 
tion  which  assembled  at  Philadelphia  on  the  7th  of  that 
month,  of  which  you  were  the  presiding  officer,  has 
nominated  me  for  the  office  of  President  of  the  United 
States. 

Looking  to  the  composition  of  the  Convention,  and 
its  numbers  and  patriotic  constituents,  I  feel  duly  grate 
ful  for  the  honor  bestowed  on  me,  and  for  the  distin 
guished  confidence  implied  in  my  nomination  to  the 
highest  office  in  the  gift  of  the  American  people. 


CRISIS    IN    THE    CAMPAIGN.  393 

I  cordially  accept  that  nomination,  but  with  the  sin 
cere  distrust  of  rny  fitness  to  fulfil  the  duties  of  an  office 
which  demands  for  its  exercise  the  most  exalted  abili 
ties  and  patriotism,  and  which  has  been  rendered 
illustrious  by  the  greatest  names  in  our  history. 

But  should  the  selection  of  the  Whig  Convention  be 
confirmed  by  the  people,  I  shall  endeavor  to  discharge 
the  new  duties  then  devolving  upon  me,  so  as  to  meet 
the  expectations  of  my  fellow-citizens,  and  preserve  un- 
diminished  the  prosperity  and  reputation  of  our  com 
mon  country. 

I  have  the  honor  to  remain,  with  the  highest  respect, 
your  obedient  servant,  Z.  TAYLOR. 

The  triumphant  nomination  of  General  Taylor,  how 
ever,  did  not  wholly  quiet  the  murmurs  of  all  the 
friends  of  other  candidates.  There  were  those  who 
still  entertained  doubts  in  regard  to  the  soundness  of 
his  political  opinions,  and  who  feared  that  with  a 
change  of  men,  the  Whig  party  wrould  fail  to  secure  a 
change  of  measures.  The  opposition  of  this  class  was 
strengthened  by  his  continued  determination  to  accept 
the  nomination  of  all  parties,  though  he  never  failed  to 
accompany  such  acceptances  with  a  positive  refusal  to 
make  them  any  pledges,  or  hold  out  to  them  the 
slightest  encouragement  that  he  would  in  any  measure 
favor  their  views.  None  of  these  letters  of  accept 
ance,  however,  was  so  warmly  discussed,  or  added  so 
much  to  the  latent  opposition  that  already  existed,  and 
to  which  reference  has  frequently  been  made,  as  one  in 
reply  to  the  Resolutions  of  a  meeting  of  the  Democratic 
citizens  of  Charleston,  South  Carolina,  nominating  him 
for  the  Presidency.  The  first  version  of  this  letter 
which  reached  the  North,  represented  that  he  had  ac- 

17* 


27 


394       REPLY  TO  THE  CHARLLSTON  LETTER. 

cepted  the  nomination  of  a  Whig  meeting  which  hacL 
rejected  the  name  of  Mr.  Fillmore  as  the  Whig  candi 
date  for  Vice  President.  As  was  not  unnatural,  this 
produced  a  feverish  state  of  excitement  amongst  the 
Whigs,  especially  of  New  York,  and  before  the  letter 
itself  had  arrived,  a  meeting  was  called  at  Albany,  to 
consult  upon  the  emergency  which  it  seemed  to  have 
created.  This  was  undoubtedly  a  crisis  to  the  Whig 
party,  and  wise  politicians  foresaw  that  it  had  become 
necessary  to  take  some  measures  for  clearing  the  polit 
ical  atmosphere  of  the  elements  of  disaffection  that  had 
so  long  existed,  or  abandon  the  hope  of  success.  It 
was  for  this  purpose  that  the  Albany  meeting  was 
called,  and  though,  at  the  time,  strong  fears  were  enter 
tained  that  it  would  lead  to  a  disruption  of  the  Whig 
party,  yet  by  the  discretion  and  wisdom  of  those  at 
whose  suggestion  it  had  been  called,  the  very  alarm 
which  it  created  was  made  the  means  of  accomplish 
ing  an  object  that  before  seemed  hopeless;  and  the 
meeting,  instead  of  repudiating  General  Taylor,  was 
turned  to  his  advantage.  From  that  day,  the  idea  of 
nominating  another  Whig  candidate  was  abandoned. 
His  letter  to  the  Charleston  meeting  was  made  to  have 
so  important  an  influence  upon  the  result  of  the  cam 
paign,  that  it  is  inserted. 

BATON  ROUGE,  La.,  Aug.  9,  1848. 

SIR  : — I  have  the  honor  to  acknowledge  the  receipt 
of  your  communication  of  the  26th  ultimo,  officially  an 
nouncing  to  me  my  nomination  for  the  Presidency  by 
a  large  meeting  of  the  Democratic  citizens  of  Charles 
ton,  S.  C.,  held  at  that  city  on  the  26th  ult.,  and  over 
which  you  were  the  presiding  officer. 

This  deliberate  expression  of  the  friendly  feelings 


ACCEPTS    THE    NOMINATION.  395 

existing  toward  me  among  a  large  and  respectable 
portion  of  the  citizens  of  your  distinguished  State, 
has  been  received  by  me  with  emotions  of  profound 
gratitude ;  and  though  it  be  but  a  poor  return  for  such 
a  high  and  unmerited  honor,  I  beg  them  to  accept  my 
heartfelt  thanks. 

Concluding  that  this  nomination,  like  all  others 
which  I  have  had  the  honor  of  receiving  from  assem 
blages  of  my  fellow-citizens  in  various  parts  of  the 
Union,  has  been  generously  offered,  without  pledges 
or  conditions,  it  is  thankfully  accepted  ;  and  I  beg  you 
to  assure  my  friends,  in  whose  behalf  you  are  acting, 
that  should  it  be  my  lot  to  fill  the  office  for  which  I 
have  been  nominated,  it  shall  be  my  unceasing  effort, 
in  the  discharge  of  its  responsible  duties,  to  give  satis 
faction  to  my  countrymen. 

With  the  assurance  of  my  high  esteem,  I  have  the 
honor  to  be,  your  obedient  servant, 

Z.  TAYLOR. 

To  W.  B.  PRIXGLE,  ESQ. 

These  misconceptions  and  misconstructions  of  his 
published  letters  had  become  so  general,  and  so  much 
ingenuity  had  been  expended  in  giving  them  a  false 
coloring,  that  General  Taylor  again  found  it  necessary 
to  correct  the  impressions  and  prejudices  thus  sought 
to  be  created.  This  he  did  in  another  letter  to  Captain 
J.  S.  Allison,  in  which  he  gave  a  connected  narrative 
of  a  series  of  circumstances  which  resulted  in  his  be 
coming,  a  candidate  for  the  Presidency.  It  presents  in 
a  compact  form,  and  with  a  comprehensiveness  that 
left  no  room  for  cavil,  all  the  matters  bearing  upon  the 
subject,  and  exhibits  him  in  his  proper  character,  true 
to  himself,  his  friends  and  his  country.  The  few  who 
had  still  withheld  from  him  their  confidence  and  sup- 


396  THE    SECOND    ALLISON    LETTER. 

port,  and  who  had  not  yet  determined  to  relinquish 
their  old  party  associations,  were  satisfied  with  its 
manly  explanation  of  his  sentiments. 

EAST  PASCAGOULA,  Sept.  4,  1848. 

DEAR  SIR  : — On  the  22d  of  May  last  I  addressed  you 
a  letter,  explaining  my  views  in  regard  to  various 
matters  of  public  policy,  lest  my  fellow-citizens  might 
be  misled  by  the  many  contradictory  and  conflicting 
statements  in  respect  to  them  which  appeared  in  the 
journals  of  the  day,  and  were  circulated  throughout 
the  country.  I  now  find  myself  misrepresented  and 
misunderstood  upon  another  point,  of  such  importance 
to  myself  personally,  if  not  to  the  country  at  large,  as 
to  claim  from  me  a  candid  and  connected  exposition 
of  my  relations  to  the  public  in  regard  to  the  pending 
Presidential  canvass. 

The  utmost  ingenuity  has  been  expended  upon  sev 
eral  letters,  and  detached  sentences  of  letters,  which 
have  recently  appeared  over  my  signature,  to  show 
that  I  occupy  an  equivocal  attitude  towards  the  vari 
ous  parties  into  which  the  people  are  divided,  and  es 
pecially  towards  the  Whig  party,  as  represented  by  the 
National  Convention  which  assembled  at  Philadelphia 
in  June  last.  Had  these  letters  and  scraps  of  letters 
been  published  or  construed  in  connection  with  what 
I  have  heretofore  said  upon  this  subject,  I  should  not 
now  have  to  complain  of  the  speed  with  which  my 
answers  to  isolated  questions  have  been  given  up  to 
the  captious  criticism  of  those  who  have  been  made 
my  enemies  by  a  nomination  which  has  been  tendered 
me  without  solicitation  or  arrangement  of  mine,  or  of 
the  manner  in  which  selected  passages  in  some  of  my 
letters,  written  in  the  freedom  and  carelessness  of  a 


HIS    RULE    OF    ACTION.  397 

confidential  correspondence,  have  been  communicated 
to  the  public  press.  But  riven  from  the  context,  and 
separated  from  a  series  of  explanatory  facts  and  cir 
cumstances  which  are,  so  far  as  this  canvass  is  con 
cerned,  historical,  they  are  as  deceptive  as  though  they 
were  positive  fabrications.  I  address  you  this  letter 
to  correct  the  injustice  that  has  been  done  me,  and  the 
public — to  the  extent  that  I  am  an  object  of  interest  to 
them — by  this  illiberal  process. 

I  shall  not  weary  you  by  an  elaborate  recital  of 
every  incident  connected  with  the  first  presentation 
of  my  name  as  a  candidate  for  the  Presidency.  I  was 
then  at  the  head  of  the  American  army  in  the  valley 
of  the  Rio  Grande.  I  was  surrounded  by  Whigs  and 
Democrats,  who  had  stood  by  me  in  the  trying  hours 
of  my  life,  and  whom  it  was  my  destiny  to  conduct 
through  scenes  of  still  greater  trial.  My  duty  to  that 
army,  and  to  the  Republic  whose  battles  we  were 
waging,  forbade  my  assuming  a  position  of  seeming 
hostility  t«  any  portion  of  the  brave  men  under  my 
command — all  of  whom  knew  I  was  a  Whig  in  principle, 
for  I  made  no  concealment  of  my  political  sentiments 
or  predilections. 

Such  has  been  the  violence  of  party  struggles  during 
our  late  Presidential  elections,  that  the  acceptance  of 
a  nomination,  under  the  various  interpretations  given 
to  the  obligations  of  a  candidate  presented  to  the  pub 
lic  with  a  formulary  of  political  principles,  was  equiv 
alent  almost  to  a  declaration  of  uncompromising  en 
mity  to  all  who  did  not  subscribe  to  its  tenets.  I  was 
unwilling  to  hazard  the  effect  of  such  relationship  to 
wards  any  of  the  soldiers  under  my  command,  when 
in  front  of  the  enemy  common  to  us  all.  It  would  have 
been  unjust  in  itself;  and  it  was  as  repugnant  to  my 


WHY    HE    ACCEPTED    ALL    NOMINATIONS. 

own  feelings  as  it  was  to  my  duty.  I  wanted  unity  in 
the  army,  and  forbore  any  act  that  might  sow  the 
seeds  of  distrust  and  discord  in  its  ranks.  I  have  not 
my  letters  written  at  the  time  before  me,  but  they  are 
all  of  one  import,  and  in  conformity  with  the  views 
herein  expressed. 

Meanwhile  I  was  solicited  by  my  personal  friends 
and  by  strangers,  by  Whigs  and  Democrats,  to  con 
sent  to  become  a  candidate.  I  was  nominated  by  the 
people  in  primary  assemblies — by  Whigs,  Democrats 
and  Natives,  in  separate  and  mixed  meetings.  I  re 
sisted  them  all,  and  continued  to  do  so  till  led  to  be 
lieve  that  my  opposition  was  assuming  the  aspect  of  a 
defiance  of  the  popular  wishes.  I  yielded  only  when 
it  looked  like  presumption  to  resist  longer,  and  even 
then  I  should  not  have  done  so  had  not  the  nomination 
been  presented  to  me  in  a  form  unlikely  to  awaken 
acrimony,  or  re-produce  the  bitterness  of  feeling  which 
attends  popular  elections.  I  say  it  in  sincerity  and 
truth,  that  a  part  of  the  inducement  to  my  consent  was 
the  hope  that  by  going  into  the  canvass,  it  would  be 
conducted  with  candor,  if  not  with  kindness.  It  has 
been  no  fault  of  mine  that  this  anticipation  has  proved 
a  vain  one. 

After  I  permitted  myself  to  be  announced  for  the 
Presidency,  under  the  circumstances  above  noticed,  I 
accepted  nomination  after  nomination  in  the  spirit  in 
which  they  were  tendered.  They  were  made  irrespec 
tive  of  party,  and  so  acknowledged.  No  one  who 
joined  in  those  nominations,  could  have  been  deceived 
as  to  my  political  views.  From  the  beginning  till  now 
I  have  declared  myself  to  be  a  Whig,  on  all  proper  oc 
casions.  With  this  distinct  avowal  published  to  the 
world,  I  did  not  think  that  I  had  a  right  to  repel  nomi- 


HIS    RELATION    TO    THE    WHIG    PARTY.  399 

nations  from  political  opponents,  any  more  than  I  had  a 
right  to  refuse  the  vote  of  a  Democrat  at  the  polls  ;  and 
I  proclaimed  it  abroad,  that  I  should  not  reject  the 
proffered  support  of  any  body  of  my  fellow-citizens. 
This  was  my  position  when,  in  November  last,  I  re 
turned  to  the  United  States,  long  before  either  of  the 
great  divisions  of  the  people  had  held  a  National  Con 
vention,  and  when  it  was  thought  doubtful  if  one  of 
them  would  hold  any. 

Mattel's  stood  in  this  attitude  till  spring,  when  there 
were  so  many  statements  in  circulation  concerning  my 
views  upon  questions  of  national  policy,  that  I  felt  con 
strained  to  correct  the  errors  into  which  the  public 
mind  was  falling,  by  a  more  explicit  enunciation  of 
principles,  which  I  did  in  my  letter  to  you  of  April  last. 
That  letter,  and  the  facts  which  I  have  detailed  as 
briefly  as  a  proper  understanding  of  them  would  per 
mit,  developed  my  whole  position  in  relation  to  the 
Presidency,  at  the  time. 

The  Democratic  Convention  met  in  May,  and  com 
posed  their  ticket  to  suit  them.  This  they  had  a  right 
to  do.  The  National  Whig  Convention  met  in  June, 
and  selected  me  as  their  candidate.  I  accepted  the 
nomination  with  gratitude  and  with  pride.  I  was  proud 
of  the  confidence  of  such  a  body  of  men,  representing 
such  a  constituency  as  the  Whig  party  of  the  United 
States — a  manifestation  the  more  grateful,  because  it 
was  not  encumbered  with  exactions  incompatible  with 
the  dignity  of  the  Presidential  office,  and  the  responsi 
bilities  of  its  incumbent  to  the  whole  people  of  the  na 
tion.  And  I  may  add,  that  these  emotions  were  in 
creased  by  associating  my  name  with  that  of  the 
distinguished  citizen  of  New  York,  whose  acknowledged 


400  GENERAL  TAYLOR'S  CREED. 

abilities  and  sound  conservative  opinions  might  have 
justly  entitled  him  to  the  first  place  on  the  ticket. 

The  Convention  adopted  me  as  it  found  me — a 
Whig,  decided,  but  not  ultra,  in  my  opinions ;  and  I 
would  be  without  excuse,  if  I  were  to  shift  the  relation 
ships  which  subsisted  at  the  time.  They  took  me 
with  the  declaration  of  principles  I  had  published  to 
the  world,  and  I  would  be  without  defence,  if  I  were  to 
say  or  do  anything  to  impair  the  force  of  that  decla 
ration. 

I  have  said  that  I  would  accept  a  nomination  from 
Democrats  ;  but' in  so  doing,  I  would  not  abate  one  jot 
or  tittle  of  my  opinions  as  written  down.  Such  a  nom 
ination,  as  indicating  a  coincidence  of  opinion  on  the 
part  of  those  making  it,  should  not  be  regarded  with 
disfavor  by  those  who  think  with  me  ;  as  a  compliment 
personal  to  myself,  it  should  not  be  expected  that  I 
would  repulse  them  with  insult.  I  shall  not  modify  my 
views,  to  entice  them  to  my  side ;  I  shall  not  reject 
their  aid,  when  they  join  my  friends  voluntarily. 

I  have  said  I  was  not  a  party  candidate,  nor  am  I, 
in  that  straitened  and  sectarian  sense  which  would 
prevent  my  being  President  of  the  whole  people,  in 
case  of  my  election.  I  did  not  regard  myself  as  one, 
before  the  Convention  met,  and  that  body  did  not  seek 
to  make  me  different  from  what  I  was.  They  did  not 
fetter  me  down  to  a  series  of  pledges  which  were  to  be 
an  iron  rule  of  action  in  all,  and  in  despite  of  all,  the 
contingencies  that  might  arise  in  the  course  of  a  Presi 
dential  term.  I  am  not  engaged  to  lay  violent  hands 
indiscriminately  upon  public  officers,  good  or  bad,  who 
may  differ  in  opinion  with  me;  I  am  not  expected  to 
force  Congress,  by  the  coercion  of  the  Veto,  to  pass 
laws  to  suit  me,  or  pass  none.  This  is  what  I  mean  by 


GENERAL    TAYLOR'S    ELECTION.  401 

not  being  a  party  candidate.  And  I  understand  this  is 
good  Whig  doctrine — I  would  not  be  a  partisan  Presi 
dent,  and  hence  should  not  be  a  party  candidate  in  the 
sense  that  would  make  me.  This  is  the  sum  and  sub 
stance  of  my  meaning,  and  this  is  the  purport  of  the 
facts  and  circumstances  attending  my  nomination,  when 
considered  in  their  connection  with,  and  dependence 
upon  one  another. 

I  refer  all  persons  who  are  anxious  on  the  subject,  to 
this  statement,  for  the  proper  understanding  of  my  po 
sition  towards  the  Presidency  and  the  people.  If  it  is 
not  intelligible,  I  cannot  make  it  so,  and  shall  cease  to 
attempt  it. 

In  taking  leave  of  the  subject,  I  have  only  to  add,  that 
my  two  letters  to  you  embrace  all  the  topics  I  design 
to  speak  of,  pending  this  canvass.  If  I  am  elected,  I 
shall  do  all  that  an  honest  zeal  may  effect,  to  cement 
the  bonds  of  our  Union,  and  establish  the  happiness 
and  prosperity  of  my  country  upon  an  enduring  basis. 

Z.  TAYLOR. 

To  Capt.  J.  S.  ALLISOX. 

The  election  for  President  and  Vice-President  took 
place  on  the  7th  day  of  November,  and  resulted  in 
the  election  of  General  Taylor  and  Millard  Fillmore, 
for  the  offices  of  President  and  Vice  President.  They 
received  163  electoral  votes  ;  and  General  Cass  and 
General  Butler,  the  Democratic  candidates  for  the  same 
offices,  received  127  votes.  The  states  of  Vermont, 
Massachusetts,  Rhode  Island,  Connecticut.  New  York, 
New  Jersey,  Pennsylvania,  Delaware,  Maryland,  North 
Carolina,  Georgia,  Louisiana,  Florida,  Kentucky  and 
Tennessee,  seven  free  and  eight  slave  States,  voted  for 
the  Whig  candidates ;  and  Maine,  New  Hampshire, 
Ohio,  Indiana,  Illinois,  Michigan,  Wisconsin,  Iowa, 


402  HIS    DEPARTURE    FOR    WASHINGTON. 

Virginia,  South  Carolina,  Alabama,  Mississippi,  Texas, 
Arkansas  and  Missouri,  eight  free  and  seven  slave 
States,  voted  for  the  Democratic  candidates. 

The  result  of  the  election,  though  confidently  anti 
cipated  by  those  who  closely  scrutinized  the  condition 
of  parties,  was  hailed  with  unbounded  satisfaction  by 
the  successful  party,  and  was  looked  upon  by  the 
moderate  and  good  men  of  all  parties  as  a  signal  tri 
umph  of  the  conservative  principles  of  the  country,  over 
that  spirit  of  radicalism  and  centralization  towards 
which  the  government  had  been  verging  during  the 
last  twenty  years.  However  zealously  General  Tay 
lor's  election  had  been  opposed,  all  candid  and  in 
telligent  men  conceded  to  him  abilities  of  the  highest 
order,  unimpeachable  integrity  and  inflexible  firmness 
of  purpose.  In  these  respects,  as  well  as  in  many  other 
traits  of  character,  he  was  believed  more  nearly  to  re 
semble  WASHINGTON  than  any  other  public  man  since 
the  organization  of  our  government.  The  purity  of  his 
life,  and  the  wisdom  that  had  ever  governed  his  con 
duct,  had  inspired  unbounded  confidence  in  his  dispo 
sition  and  ability  to  carry  out  the  true  principles  of  the 
constitution  in  the  spirit  of  its  illustrious  framers. 

On  the  24th  of  January,  General  Taylor  took  his 
departure  from  Baton  Rouge,  for  Washington,  to  enter 
upon  the  duties  of  the  high  office  to  which  he  had  been 
elected  by  the  suffrages  of  the  people.  On  the  day 
previous  to  his  taking  leave  of  his  home,  and  his  old 
and  tried  friends,  the  citizens  of  Baton  Rouge,  irrespec 
tive  of  party  differences,  assembled  spontaneously,  and 
in  large  numbers,  to  pay  him  their  respects  and  bid 
him  farewell.  A  large  procession  was  formed,  which 
proceeded  to  his  residence  at  the  United  States  Bar 
racks,  where  he  was  appropriately  addressed  on  behalf 


HIS    WITHDRAWAL    FROM    THE    ARMY. 


403 


of  the  citizens  by  one  of  their  number.  To  this  ad 
dress  he  made  a  brief  but  touching  reply,  in  which  he 
assured  them  that  it  was  with  feelings  of  no  ordinary 
character  that  he  met  with  his  fellow-citizens  on  such 
an  occasion,  many  of  whom  he  had  been  associated 
with  more  than  a  quarter  of  a  century.  Had  he  con 
sulted  his  own  wishes,  he  said,  he  should  have  pre 
ferred  the  office  he  was  then  about  to  vacate,  and  have 
remained  among  his  old  friends,  but  that  as  the  people 
had,  without  his  solicitation,  seen  fit  to  elevate  him  to 
another,  though  he  distrusted  his  abilities  satisfactorily 
to  discharge  the  great  and  important  duties  thus  im 
posed  upon  him,  yet  he  assured  them  that  he  should 
endeavor  to  fulfil  them  without  regard  to  fear,  favor  or 
affection  from  any  one.  In  conclusion,  he  feelingly 
invoked  God's  blessing  upon  his  fellow-citizens,  and 
prayed  that  He  might  grant  them  all,  and  their  fami 
lies,  long  life,  health  and  prosperity  ;  and  bid  them  an 
affectionate  farewell. 

The  day  succeeding  General  Taylor's  departure, 
Major  Bliss,  his  accomplished  Adjutant  General,  issued 
an  order  announcing  his  final  withdrawal  from  the  mil 
itary  service  of  the  country.  In  resigning  his  com 
mand,  General  Taylor  expressed  his  regret  at  his  sepa 
ration  from  a  service  to  which  he  was  attached  by  so 
many  pleasing  and  proud  associations.  To  the  officers 
and  men  w^o  had  served  his  immediate  orders,  he 
warmly  expressed  his  parting  thanks  for  their  zealous 
and  cordial  support  in  the  execution  of  the  duties  con 
fided  to  him  during  a  long  and  eventful  service.  To 
them,  and  to  all,  he  extended  a  heartfelt  farewell,  and 
his  warmest  wishes  for  their  continued  happiness  and 
success  in  the  arduous  and  honorable  career  which 
thev  had  chosen. 


404  DEMONSTRATIONS    OF    POPULAR    FAVOR. 

Everywhere  on  his  journey  to  the  Capital  he  was 
met  with  the  liveliest  expression  of  gratitude  by  the 
people  along  his  route.  The  demonstrations  of  popu 
lar  favor  which  were  displayed,  were  the  cordial  and 
unaffected  offerings  of  the  people  to  his  eminent  public 
services,  his  acknowledged  moral  worth,  and  his  great 
abilities.  They  were  tributes  from  the  heart,  and  to 
a  man  of  General  Taylor's  unambitious  character 
they  were  undoubtedly  far  more  gratifying  than  the 
high  political  honors  they  had  just  bestowed  upon  him. 
It  was  only  in  this  light  that,  to  a  mind  so  admirably 
constituted  as  his  is,  these  popular  demonstrations 
were  valuable.  That  popularity  which  is  raised  with 
out  merit  and  lost  without  a  crime,  that  always  fol 
lows  those  in  power,  was  neither  courted  nor  desired 
by  him.  But  that  applause  which  should  only  be 
bestowed  for  good  and  virtuous  actions,  he  was  not 
insensible  to.  This  is  the  popularity  which  he  had  so 
richly  won  by  his  good  deeds  and  pure  life,  and  the 
evidences  of  it  were  now  freely  offered  to  him.  It  is 
the  only  applause  which  is  prized  by  the  great  and 
bestowed  by  the  good. 

In  the  latter  part  of  February  Gen.  Taylor  arrived 
at  the  Capital,  and  on  the  fifth  day  of  March  was  in 
augurated  as  twefth  President  of  the  United  States. 
He  entered  upon  the  duties  of  that  high  office  under 
as  favorable  circumstances  as  were  ever  ejijoyed  by  a 
Chief  Magistrate  of  this  nation.  Added  to  a  strong 
and  well-disciplined  mind,  and  abilities  of  the  highest 
order,  he  possesses  a  reputation  above  reproach,  un 
impeachable  integrity,  and  firmness  and  energy  of 
character.  From  the  nature  of  his  pursuits,  he  is 
necessarily  free  from  those  prejudices  and  entangling 
alliances  which  are  so  apt  to  warp  the  judgment  and 


CONCLUSION.  405 

embarrass  the  action  of  all  men,  however  honest  their 
intentions,  and  he  therefore  has  "  no  private  purposes 
to  accomplish,  no  party  projects  to  build  up,  no  enemies 
to  punish — nothing  to  serve  but  his  country."  That 
he  will  act  from  the  highest  and  purest  motives,  the 
country  has  full  confidence  :  and  whatever  errors  he 
may  commit, — and  no  man  was  ever  yet  free  from 
them, — he  has  given  assurance  by  his  past  life,  that 
they  will  arise  from  a  mistaken  judgment,  and  not 
from  a  perverted  heart. 


INAUGURAL  ADDRESS. 


ELECTED  by  the  American  people  to  the  highest  office  known  to  our 
laws,  I  appear  here  to  take  the  oath  prescribed  by  the  Constitution,  ana 
in  compliance  with  a  time-honored  custom,  to  witness  which  you  are 
now  assembled.  The  confidence  and  respect  shown  by  niy  countrymen; 
in  calling  me  to  be  the  Chief  Magistrate  of  a  Republic  holding  a  high 
rank  among  the  nations  of  the  earth,  has  inspired  me  with  feelings  of  the 
most  profound  gratitude.  But  when  I  reflect  that  the  acceptance  of  the 
office  which  their  partiality  has  bestowed,  imposes  the  discharge  of  the 
most  arduous  duties,  and  involves  the  weightiest  obligation,  I  am  con 
scious  that  the  station  which  I  have  been  called  to  fill,  though  sufficient 
to  satisfy  the  loftiest  ambition,  is  surrounded  by  fearful  responsibilities. 

Happily,  however,  in  the  performance  of  my  new  duties,  I  shall  not 
be  without  able  co-operation.  The  legislative  and  judicial  branches  of 
the  government  present  prominent  examples  of  distinguished  civil  at 
tainments  and  matured  experience ;  and  it  shall  be  my  endeavor  to  call 
to  my  assistance,  in  the  executive  departments,  individuals  whose  in 
tegrity  and  purity  of  character  will  furnish  ample  guarantees  for  the 
faithful  and  honorable  performance  of  the  trusts  to  be  committed  to  their 
charge.  With  such  aids,  and  an  honest  purpose  to  do  what  is  right,  I 
hope  to  execute  diligently,  impartially,  and  for  the  best  interests  of  the 
country,  the  manifold  duties  devolving  upon  me. 

In  the  discharge  of  these  duties,  my  guide  will  be  the  Constitution  I 
this  day  swear  to  preserve,  protect,  and  defend. 

For  the  interpretation  of  that  instrument,  I  shall  look  to  the  decisions 
of  judicial  tribunals  established  by  its  authority,  and  to  the  practice  of 
government  under  the  earliest  Presidents,  who  had  so  large  a  share  in 
its  formation.  To  the  example  of  those  illustrious  patriots  I  shall  al 
ways  refer  with  deference,  and  especially  to  his  example  who  won  the 
title  of  the  Father  of  his  Country. 

To  command  the  army  and  navy  of  the  United  States,  with  the  advice 
and  consent  of  the  Senate  to  make  treaties  and  to  appoint  ambassa 
dors  and  other  officers,  to  give  to  Congress  information  of  the  state  of  the 
Union,  and  recommend  such  means  as  he  shall  judge  to  be  necessary, 
and  to  take  care  that  the  laws  shall  be  faithfully  executed — these  are 


INAUGURAL    ADDRESS.  407 

the  most  important  functions  entrusted  by  the  Constitution,  and  it  may 
be  expected  that  I  shall  briefly  indicate  the  principles  wliich  will  control 
me  in  their  execution. 

Chosen  by  the  body  of  the  people,  under  the  assurance  that  my  ad 
ministration  should  be  devoted  to  the  welfare  of  the  whole  country,  and 
not  to  the  support  of  any  particular  section  of  merely  local  interest,  I 
this  day  renew  the  declarations  I  have  heretofore  made,  and  proclaim 
my  fixed  determination  to  maintain,  to  the  extent  of  my  ability,  the 
government  in  its  original  purity,  and  to  adopt,  as  the  basis  of  my  public 
policy,  those  great  republican  doctrines  which  constitute  the  strength  of 
our  national  existence. 

In  reference  to  the  armv  and  navy,  lately  employed  with  so  much 
distinction  in  active  service,  care  should  be  taken  to  insure  the  highest 
condition  of  efficacy ;  and  in  furtherance  of  that  object,  the  military  and 
naval  schools  sustained  by  the  liberality  of  Congress,  shall  receive  the 
most  special  attention  of  the  Executive. 

As  American  freemen,  we  cannot  but  sympathize  with  all  efforts  to 
extend  the  blessings  of  civil  and  political  liberty ;  but  at  the  same  time, 
we  are  Avarned,  by  the  admonition  of  history,  and  the  voice  of  our  own 
beloved  Washington,  to  abstain  from  entangling  alliances  with  foreign 
nations,  on  all  disputes  between  conflicting  governments.  It  is  our  inter 
est,  no  less  than  our  duty,  to  remain  strictly  neutral ;  while  our  geo 
graphical  position,  the  genius  of  our  institutions  and  our  people,  the 
advancing  spirit  of  civilization,  and  above  all,  the  dictates  of  religion, 
direct  us  to  the  cultivation  of  peaceful  and  friendly  relations  with  all 
other  powers. 

It  is  to  be  hoped  that  no  international  questions  can  now  arise,  which 
a  government  confident  in  its  own  strength,  and  resolved  to  protect  its 
own  just  rights,  may  not  settle  by  wise  negotiation ;  and  it  eminently 
becomes  a  government  like  our  own,  founded  on  the  morality  and  intel 
ligence  of  its  citizens,  and  upheld  by  their  affections,  to  exhaust  every 
resort  of  honorable  diplomacy,  before  appealing  to  arms.  In  the  con 
duct  of  our  foreign  relations,  I  shall  conform  to  these  views,  as  I  believe 
them  essential  to  the  be>t  interests  and  honor  of  our  country. 

The  appointing  power  vested  in  the  President,  imposes  delicate  and 
onerous  duties.  So  far  as  it  is  possible  to  be  informed,  I  shall  make 
honesty,  capacity,  and  fidelity,  indispensable  pre-requisites  to  the  be 
stowal  of  offices,  and  absence  of  either  of  these  qualities  shall  be  deemed 
sufficient  cause  for  removal 

It  shall  be  my  study  to  recommend  such  constitutional  measures  to 
Congress,  as  may  be  necessary  and  proper  to  secure  encouragement  and 
protection  to  the  great  interests  of  agriculture,  commerce,  and  nianu- 


408  INAUGURAL    ADDRESS. 

"  To  command  the  Army  and  Navy  of  the  United 
States ;  with  the  advice  and  consent  of  the  Senate,  to 
make  treaties,  and  to  appoint  ambassadors  and  other 
officers ;  to  give  to  Congress  information  of  the  state 
of  the  Union,  and  recommend  such  measures  as  he 
shall  judge  to  be  necessary  ;  and  to  take  care  that  the 
laws  shall  be  faithfully  executed ;  these  are  the  most 
important  functions  entrusted  to  the  President  by  the 
Constitution ;  and  it  may  be  expected  that  I  shall, 
briefly,  indicate  the  principles  which  will  control  me 
in  their  execution. 

"  Chosen  by  the  body  of  the  people  under  the  assur 
ance  that  my  administration  would  be  devoted  to  the 
welfare  of  the  whole  country,  and  not  to  the  support 
of  any  particular  section,  or  merely  local  interest,  I 
this  day  renew  the  declarations  I  have  heretofore 
made,  and  proclaim  my  fixed  determination  to  main 
tain,  to  the  extent  of  my  ability,  the  Government  in  its 
original  purity,  and  to  adopt,  as  the  basis  of  my  public 
policy,  those  great  republican  doctrines  which  consti 
tute  the  strength  of  our  national  existence. 

"  In  reference  to  the  Army  and  Navy,  lately  em 
ployed  with  so  much  distinction  on  active  service,  care 
shall  be  taken  to  ensure  the  highest  condition  of  effi 
ciency  ;  and,  in  furtherance  of  that  object,  the  military 
and  naval  schools,  sustained  by  the  liberality  of  Con 
gress,  shall  receive  the  special  attention  of  the  Execu 
tive. 

"  As  American  freemen,  we  cannot  but  sympathize 
in  all  efforts  to  extend  the  blessings  of  civil  and  politi 
cal-liberty ;  but,  at  the  same  time,  we  are  warned  by 
the  admonitions  of  history,  and  the  voice  of  our  own 
beloved  Washington,  to  abstain  from  entangling  alli 
ances  with  foreign  nations.  In  all  disputes  between 


INAUGURAL    ADDRESS.  409 

conflicting  governments,  it  is  our  interest,  not  less  than 
our  duty,  to  remain  strictly  neutral ;  while  our  geo 
graphical  position,  the  genius  of  our  institutions  and 
our  people,  the  advancing  spirit  of  civilization,  and, 
above  all,  the  dictates  of  religion,  direct  us  to  the  cul 
tivation  of  peaceful  and  friendly  relations  with  all 
other  powers.  It  is  to  be  hoped  that  no  international 
question  can  now  arise  which  a  government,  confident 
in  its  own  strength,  and  resolved  to  protect  its  own 
just  rights,  may  not  settle  by  wise  negotiation ;  and  it 
eminently  becomes  a  government  like  our  own,  founded 
on  the  morality  and  intelligence  of  its  citizens,  and  up 
held  by  their  affections,  to  exhaust  every  resort  of  hon 
orable  diplomacy  before  appealing  to  arms.  In  the 
conduct  of  our  foreign  relations,  1  shall  conform  to 
these  views,  as  I  believe  them  essential  to  the  best  in 
terests  and  the  true  honor  of  the  country. 

"  The  appointing  power  vested  in  the  President,  im 
poses  delicate  and  onerous  duties.  So  far  as  it  is  pos 
sible  to  be  informed,  I  shall  make  honesty,  capacity, 
and  fidelity,  indispensable  pre-requisites  to  the  bestowal 
of  office,  and  the  absence  of  either  of  these  qualities 
shall  be  deemed  sufficient  cause  for  removal. 

"  It  shall  be  my  study  to  recommend  such  Constitu 
tional  measures  to  Congress  as  may  be  necessary  and 
proper  to  secure  encouragement  and  protection  to  the 
great  interests  of  Agriculture,  Commerce,  and  Manu 
factures  ;  to  improve  our  rivers  and  harbors ;  to  pro 
vide  for  the  speedy  extinguishment  of  the  public  debt ; 
to  enforce  a  strict  accountability  on  the  part  of  all 
officers  of  the  Government,  and  the  utmost  economy 
in  all  public  expenditures.  But  it  is  for  the  wisdom  of 
Congress  itself,  in  which  all  legislative  powers  are 
vested  by  the  Constitution,  to  regulate  these  and  other 
18 


410         TAKE3  THE  OATH  OF  OFFICE. 

matters  of  domestic  policy.  I  shall  look  with  confi 
dence  to  the  enlightened  patriotism  of  that  body  to 
adopt  such  measures  of  conciliation  as  may  harmonize 
conflicting  interests,  and  tend  to  perpetuate  that  Union 
which  should  be  the  paramount  object  of  our  hopes 
and  affections.  In  any  action  calculated  to  promote 
an  object  so  near  the  heart  of  every  one  who  truly 
loves  his  country,  I  will  zealously  unite  with  the  co 
ordinate  branches  of  the  Government. 

"  In  conclusion,  I  congratulate  you,  my  fellow-citi 
zens,  upon  the  high  state  of  prosperity  to  which  the 
goodness  of  Divine  Providence  has  conducted  our  com 
mon  country.  Let  us  invoke  a  continuance  of  the 
same  protecting  care,  which  has  led  us  from  small  be 
ginnings  to  the  eminence  we  this  day  occupy,  and  let 
us  seek  to  deserve  that  continuance  by  prudence  and 
moderation  in  our  councils;  by  well-directed  attempts 
to  assuage  the  bitterness  which  too  often  marks  una 
voidable  differences  of  opinion ;  by  the  promulgation 
and  practice  of  just  and  liberal  principles  ;  and  by  an 
enlarged  patriotism,  which  shall  acknowledge  no  limits 
but  those  of  our  own  wide-spread  Republic/' 

As  soon  as  the  applause  which  marked  the  conclu 
sion  of  this  address  had  subsided,  the  oath  to  execute 
the  office  of  President  of  the  United  States,  and  to  the 
best  of  his  ability  to  preserve,  protect,  and  defend  the 
Constitution,  was  administered  by  Chief  Justice  Taney. 
The  ceremony  at  the  Capitol  was  terminated  by  peals 
of  artillery,  when  the  President  retraced  his  steps,  and 
soon  after  entered  the  White  House  as  the  twelfth  Pres 
ident  of  this  great  Republic. 

Having  thus  complied  with  the  provision  of  the  Con 
stitution  necessary  to  qualify  him  for  the  discharge  of 
the  high  and  responsible  duties  he  had  assumed,  all  the 


REMOVAL    OF    OFFICE-HOLDERS.  411 

faculties  of  a  great  mind,  the  wisdom  of  a  sound  head, 
and  the  patriotism  of  a  noble  heart,  were  brought  into 
requisition.  The  many  admirable  traits  of  character 
which  had  been  claimed  for  him  previous  to  his  election 
to  the  Presidency,  soon  began  to  develop  themselves 
more  fully  to  the  public,  and  every  day  added  to  the 
evidence,  that  he  possessed  no  less  the  elements  of  a 
statesman  than  he  had  already  proved  to  the  world  that 
he  did  those  of  a  soldier.  He  seemed  almost  by  intui 
tion  to  grasp  every  question  of  national  policy,  and  by  his 
sound  discriminating  common  sense,  to  unriddle  what 
had  puzzled  the  heads  of  our  most  experienced  statesmen. 
His  course  was  always  straight  to  his  object  by  the 
most  direct  path.  He  pursued  no  devious  or  winding 
way  to  reach  the  end  his  mind  told  him  was  right. 
None  of  the  subtilties  which  sometimes  mark  the  course 
of  politicians  and  of  statesmen,  ever  found  favor  with 
him.  Having  declared  to  the  public,  previous  to  his 
elevation  to  the  Presidency,  the  policy  he  should  pur 
sue,  and  sworn  to  "  preserve,  protect,  and  defend"  the 
Constitution,  his  sole  aim  seemed  to  be,  an  earnest  de 
sire  faithfully  to  observe  the  oath,  and  to  comply  with 
the  pledges  he  had  made  to  the  people. 

It  was  not  to  have  been  expected  that,  in  the  dis 
charge  of  the  delicate  and  responsible  trust  which  he 
was  called  upon  to  execute,  of  equalizing  the  offices 
of  the  Government,  which  for  twenty  years  had  been  in 
the  hands  of  the  party  opposed  to  his  election,  he  should 
not  have  incurred  the  opposition  of  those  upon  whom 
the  hand  of  reform  was  compelled  to  fall.  It  was,  in 
deed,  the  inevitable  result  of  measures  a  new  adminis 
tration  was  expected  and  required  to  adopt.  But,  how 
ever  indiscriminately  party  fidelity  required  the  Press 
opposed  to  his  administration  to  denounce  him,  a  spirit 


412  THE  SLAVERY  QUESTION. 

of  candor  will  force  all  to  admit,  that  he  exercised  the 
delicate  power  of  removal,  with  no  feeling  of  party 
malice,  and  no  love  for  political  proscription.  No  Presi 
dent  ever  exercised  it  more  sparingly,  or  with  a  more 
scrupulous  regard  for  the  public  interests  and  individual 
justice.  The  principle  he  had  avowed  of  removing  no 
man  for  a  mere  difference  of  political  opinion,  was  re 
ligiously  adhered  to,  so  far  as  it  was  in  the  power  of 
man  to  do  so  ;  and  if  he  ever  departed  from  it,  it  was 
upon  erroneous  information. 

Strong  as  was  the  confidence  of  the  public  in  Gen 
eral  Taylor's  wisdom,  patriotism,  and  honesty,  and 
warmly  as  the  Whig  party  were  attached  to  him,  no 
opportunity  had  presented  itself  for  an  avowal  of  his 
views  upon  the  various  local  questions  which  had  divi 
ded  the  people  of  the  country  ;  and  accordingly  the 
meeting  of  Congress,  and  his  first  annual  message  to 
that  body,  were  looked  to  with  deep  anxiety,  not  only 
by  his  political  friends,  but  by  the  whole  American 
people.  And  above  all,  was  there  a  painful  solicitude  in 
the  public  mind,  both  north  and  south,  to  know  more  ex 
plicitly  than  he  had  yet  been  called  upon  to  declare  them, 
his  views  upon  the  all-absorbing  and  most  embarrass 
ing  subject  of  slavery.  Though  he  had,  on  more  than 
one  occasion,  declared  the  general  principles  that  would 
govern  him,  with  sufficient  distinctness  to  satisfy  all 
who  were  familiar  with  his  frank  and  noble  nature,  as 
well  as  a  very  large  portion  of  the  party  whose  suffra 
ges  had  elevated  him  to  the  Presidency ;  yet  it  need 
not  be  concealed  that  there  was  still  a  large  class,  even 
of  his  political  friends,  who  did  not  give  him  their  whole 
confidence.  They  feared  that,  being  a  southern  man, 
reared  under  southern  institutions,  and  his  interests 
closely  identified  with  slavery,  that  an  undue  share  of 


ANXIETY    TO    LEARN    HIS    VIEWS.  413 

the  influence  of  his  administration  would  be  exerted  to 
extend  and  strengthen  that  institution  ;  but,  all  such 
had  yet  to  learn,  as  they  did  learn,  that  they  did  not 
understand  General  Taylor's  true  character,  his  enlarged 
patriotism,  and  his  comprehensive  and  truly  national 
views.  This  they  discovered  before  his  death,  as  they 
then  and  now  frankly  admit. 

During  the  progress  of  the  campaign,  which  resulted 
in  placing  him  in  the  executive  chair  of  the  nation,  he 
had,  on  various  occasions,  as  has  already  been  stated, 
avowed  in  general,  but  very  explicit  and  manly  terms, 
the  leading  features  of  the  policy  he  should  pursue.  But 
he  expressly  declined,  for  reasons  deemed  generally 
satisfactory,  in  consideration  of  the  peculiar  and  deli 
cate  position  in  which  he  was  placed,  to  enter  into  a 
detailed  exposition  of  his  views  upon  the  various  ques 
tions  of  local  and  domestic  policy,  which  were  before 
the  country.  Hence  the  anxiety,  to  which  reference 
has  been  made,  to  know  the  opinions  he  wrould  advance 
and  the  recommendations  he  would  make,  in  his  first 
message  to  Congress. 

The  two  houses  of  Congress  assembled  on  Monday, 
the  third  day  of  December  ;  but  in  consequence  of  the 
failure  of  the  House  of  Representatives  to  effect  an 
organization,  its  delivery  was  delayed  until  the  twenty- 
fourth.  On  that  day  it  was  sent  to  both  branches  of 
Congress. 

After  invoking  in  appropriate  and  feeling  terms,  the 
guidance  of  the  Almighty,  and  expressing  the  obliga 
tions  of  gratitude  and  thankfulness  we  were  under  to 
Him,  for  having  stayed  the  ravages  of  the  dreadful  pesti 
lence  which  had  visited  portions  of  our  country,  he 
briefly,  but  succinctly  recapitulated  the  condition  of  our 
relations  with  foreign  countries ; — paid  a  feeling  and  elo- 


414  HIS    FIRST    MESSAGE    TO    CONGRESS. 

quent  tribute  to  the  noble  but  unsuccessful  struggle  of 
the  Hungarians  for  a  national  existence  and  independ 
ence,  and  expressed  his  deep  sympathy  for  their  cause  ; 
— referred  to  the  projects  of  a  ship  canal  through  the 
St'ate  of  Nicaragua,  to  connect  the  Atlantic  and  Pa 
cific,  and  of  a  railroad  across  the  Isthmus  of  Panama ; 
and  recommended  them  as  worthy  the  consideration  of 
Congress  ; — gave  a  statement  of  the  condition  of  the 
finances  of  the  government ; — recommended  a  reduc 
tion  of  postage  to  a  uniform  rate,  and  the  abolition  of 
the  franking  privilege  ; — reiterated  his  views  upon  the 
exercise  of  the  veto  power,  declaring  that  he  should 
never  resort  to  it  except  in  extreme  cases,  such  as  were 
evidently  contemplated  by  the  framers  of  the  Constitu 
tion,  and  the  fathers  of  the  Republic — to  prevent  the 
encroachment  of  the  legislative  power,  for  instance,  or, 
hasty  and  inconsiderate  or  unconstitutional  legislation, 
and  closed  by  thus  declaring  his  opinion  of  the  value 
of  the  Union,  his  warm  attachment  to  it,  and  his  firm 
determination  to  defend  and  preserve  it : — 

"  But  attachment  to  the  union  of  the  States  should 
be  habitually  fostered  in  every  American  heart.  For 
more  than  half  a  century,  during  which  kingdoms  and 
empires  have  fallen,  this  Union  has  stood  unshaken. 
The  patriots  who  formed  it  have  long  since  descended 
to  the  grave ;  yet  still  it  remains  the  proudest  monu 
ment  to  their  memory,  and  the  object  of  affection  and 
admiration  with  every  one  worthy  to  bear  the  Ameri 
can  name.  In  my  judgment,  its  dissolution  would  be 
the  greatest  of  calamities  ;  and  to  avert  that,  should  be 
the  study  of  every  American.  Upon  its  preservation 
must  depend  our  happiness  and  that  of  countless  gene 
rations  to  come.  Whatever  dangers  may  threaten  it, 
I  SHALL  STAND  BY  IT  AND  MAINTAIN  IT, 


ITS    MERITS.  415 

IN  ITS  INTEGRITY,  TO  THE  FULL  EXTENT 
OF  THE  OBLIGATIONS  IMPOSED,  AND  THE 
POWER  CONFERRED  UPON  ME  BY  THE 
CONSTITUTION." 

If  there  were  nothing  else  in  this  first  message  of 
General  Taylor  to  commend  him  to  the  favor  of  the 
American  people,  and  it  had  been  the  last  sentiment 
that  ever  fell  from  his  lips,  it  would  have  endeared  his 
memory  to  every  American  heart  while  the  Republic 
stands.  It  was  such  a  sentiment  as  was  worthy  the 
pure  patriot,  the  illustrious  soldier,  and  the  incorrupti 
ble  statesman  who  uttered  it.  It  was  such  a  declara 
tion  of  determination  to  stand  by  and  defend  the  Con 
stitution,  made  by  a  man  with  hands  so  able,  and  a 
heart  so  willing,  and  a  mind  so  resolute  to  carry  them 
out,  that  has  kept  from  breaking  into  an  open  flame  the 
now  inert  spirit  of  treason  to  the  country,  that  is  known 
to  exist  in  certain  States  of  the  Union.  And  it  is  only 
by  a  similar  determined  disposition  to  nip  in  the  bud 
the  first  overt  act,  that  that  insane  spirit  of  disunion 
will  be  kept  confined  to  empty  threats. 

But  this  patriotic  avowal  of  his  determination  to 
save  the  nation  from  the  calamity  with  which  it  had 
then  been  threatened,  as  it  is  now,  was  not  the  only 
merit  of  the  message.  It  was  almost  universally  con 
ceded  to  be  a  model  document  in  its  style  and  charac 
ter,  and  to  have  conformed  more  literally  to  the  design 
of  the  Constitution,  in  requiring  the  Executive  simply  to 
recommend  measures  to  Congress,  than  any  similar  pa 
per  since  the  founders  of  the  Republic.  The  variety  of 
subjects  touched  upon,  the  simple  brevity,  yet  perspicu 
ity  and  directness  with  which  they  are  presented,  its 
freedom  from  that  air  of  assumed  superiority  and  arro 
gance,  which  form  so  offensive  a  feature  in  the  official 


416      OMITS  THE  SUBJECTS  OF  SLAVERY  AND  PROTECTION. 

communications  of  many  public  functionaries — the 
very  absence,  indeed,  of  all  rhetorical  flourish  and 
studied  straining  for  fine  turned  periods,  as  well  as  the 
entire  reliance  of  its  author  on  the  ability  of  Congress 
to  comprehend  its  duty,  without  the  aid  of  a  labored 
and  tedious  argument  appended  to  each  distinct  "rec 
ommendation  ;" — all  these  served  but  to  commend  it  to 
the  popular  mind,  and  to  strengthen  the  confidence 
which  had  already  begun  to  take  so  deep  a  root  in  the 
hearts  of  the  people. 

The  message,  it  is  true,  contained  no  distinct  avowal 
of  the  policy  he  should  pursue  in  regard  to  one  of  the 
cardinal  principles  of  the  party  to  whom  he  owed  his 
election, — that  of  protection  to  American  industry,  nor 
upon  the  slavery  question,  the  two  principal  topics  that 
occupied  public  attention.  But  his  Secretary  of  the 
Treasury,  within  the  sphere  of  whose  legitimate  duty  it 
was,  presented  the  first  of  these  subjects  to  Congress 
with  a  force  of  reasoning,  strengthened  by  an  array  of 
facts  that  exhausted  the  whole  subject,  and  left  no 
more  to  be  said  in  favor  of  the  principle,  and  little 
room  for  controverting  his  positions.  In  regard  to  the 
other,  the  time  had  not  come  for  him  to  present  his 
views  to  Congress.  He  was  not  then  called  upon 
either  by  the  Constitution  or  his  obligation  to  the  coun 
try,  to  submit  to  Congress  any  recommendations  on  the 
subject  of  slavery,  as  it  could  only  serve  to  increase 
the  bitter  and  angry  dissensions  that  already  existed  to  so 
great  an  extent  among  the  people  of  the  United  States. 

But  an  occasion  was  soon  presented,  when  it  became 
the  duty  of  the  President  to  express  his  opinions  upon 
the  agitating  question  of  the  extension,  or  non  exten 
sion  of  slavery  in  the  territory  acquired  from  Mexico, 
and  when  he  could  do  so  without  violating  the  princi- 


INFORMATION  CALLED  FOR  BY  THE  HOUSE.   417 

pie  of  action  he  had  marked  out,  or  adding  to  the  exist 
ing  excitement.  It  had  been  well  understood  that  the 
people  of  California  had  organized  a  State  government, 
and  that  they  would  soon  be  applying  to  Congress, 
through  her  chosen  Representatives,  for  admission  into 
the  Union.  This  had  created  no  small  commotion 
amongst  many  southern  members  of  Congress,  on  the 
ground  that  it  would  destroy  the  "  equilibrium"  which 
they  contended  should  exist  between  the  free  and  slave 
States.  The  President  was  freely  charged  with  exer 
cising  an  improper  influence  upon  the  people  of  Cali 
fornia,  through  the  United  States  troops  stationed  • 
there,  with  a  view  to  coerce  them  into  the  adoption  of 
a  State  government.  A  resolution  was  introduced  into 
the  House  of  Representatives,  and  adopted,  calling 
upon  him  for  all  orders  and  correspondence,  and  all 
official  information  in  his  possession  in  relation  to  Cal 
ifornia.  In  accordance  with  this  resolution,  the  Presi 
dent  transmitted  to  the  House,  on  the  2 1st  of  January, 
the  information  called  for,  with  the  following  message, 
embracing  his  views  upon  the  subject  in  dispute,  and 
recommending  what  he  conceived  to  be  the  wisest 
plan  for  settling  the  territorial  difficulty.  This  mes 
sage  is  so  admirable  in  tone  and  temper,  and  contains 
sentiments  so  much  in  harmony  with  the  intelligent 
public  opinion,  that  it  is  here  placed  on  record  as  the 
most  striking  evidence  of  the  foresight,  wisdom,  and 
patriotism  of  General  Taylor  :— 

•*  I  transmit  to  the  House  of  Representatives,  in  an 
swer  to  a  resolution  of  that  body,  passed  on  the  31st 
of  December  last,  the  accompanying  reports  of  Heads 
of  Departments,  which  contain  all  the  official  informa 
tion  in  the  possession  of  the  Executive  asked  for  by  the 
resolutions. 

18* 


418  MESSAGE    ON 

"  On  coming  into  office  I  found  the  military  com 
mandant  of  the  department  of  California  exercising  the 
functions  of  civil  governor  in  that  Territory  ;  and  left 
as  I  was  to  act  under  the  treaty  of  Guadalupe  Hidalgo 
without  the  aid  of  any  legislative  provision  in  establish-^ 
ing  a  government  in  that  Territory,  I  thought  it  best 
not  to  disturb  that  arrangement,  made  under  my  pred 
ecessor,  until  Congress  should  take  some  action  on 
that  subject.  I  therefore  did  not  interfere  with  the 
powers  of  the  military  commandant,  who  continued  to 
exercise  the  functions  of  civil  governor  as  before,  but 
I  made  no  such  appointment,  conferred  no  such  au 
thority,  and  have  allowed  no  increased  compensation 
to  the  commandant  for  his  services. 

"  With  a  view  to  the  faithful  execution  of  the  treaty, 
so  far  as  lay  in  the  power  of  the  Executive,  and  to  en 
able  Congress  to  act  at  the  present  session  with  as  full 
knowledge  and  as  little  difficulty  as  possible  on  all 
matters  of  interest  in  these  Territories,  I  sent  the  Hon. 
Thomas  Butler  King  as  bearer  of  dispatches  to  Cali 
fornia,  and  certain  officers  to  California  and  New 
Mexico,  whose  duties  are  particularly  defined  in  the 
accompanying  letters  of  instruction  addressed  to  them 
severally  by  the  proper  Department. 

"  I  did  not  hesitate  to  express  to  the  people  of  those 
Territories  my  desire  that  each  Territory  should,  if 
prepared  to  comply  with  the  requisitions  of  the  Con 
stitution  of  the  United  States,  form  a  plan  of  State 
constitution,  and  submit  the  same  to  Congress,  with  a 
prayer  for  admission  into  the  Union  as  a  State ;  but  I 
did  not  anticipate,  suggest,  or  authorize  the  establish 
ment  of  any  such  government  without  the  assent  of 
Congress,  nor  did  I  authorize  any  government  agent  or 
officer  to  interfere  with,  or  exercise  any  influence  or 


CALIFORNIA    AND    NEW    MEXICO.  419 

control  over  the  election  of  delegates,  or  over  any  con 
vention,  in  making  or  modifying  their  domestic  institu 
tions,  or  any  of  the  provisions  of  their  proposed  consti 
tution.  On  the  contrary,  the  instructions  given  by  my 
orders  were,  that  all  measures  of  domestic  policy 
adopted  by  the  people  of  California  must  originate 
solely  with  themselves;  that  while  the  Executive  of 
the  United  States  was  desirous  to  protect  them  in  the 
formation  of  any  government  republican  in  its  charac 
ter,  to  be  at  the  proper  time  submitted  to  Congress, 
yet  it  was  to  be  distinctly  understood  that  the  plan  of 
such  a  government  must  at  the  same  time  be  the 
result  of  their  own  deliberate  choice,  and  originate 
with  themselves,  without  the  interference  of  the  Ex 
ecutive. 

"  I  am  unable  to  give  any  information  as  to  laws 
passed  by  any  supposed  government  in  California,  or 
of  any  census  taken  in  either  of  the  Territories  men 
tioned  in  the  resolution,  as  I  have  no  information  on 
those  subjects. 

"As  already  stated,  I  have  not  disturbed  the  ar 
rangements  which  I  found  had  existed  under  my  pred 
ecessor. 

"  In  advising  an  early  application  by  the  people  of 
the  Territories  for  admission  as  States,  I  was  actuated 
principally  by  an  earnest  desire  to  afford  to  the  wisdom 
and  patriotism  of  Congress  the  opportunity  of  avoiding 
occasions  of  bitter  and  angry  dissensions  among  the 
people  of  the  United  States. 

"  Under  the  Constitution  every  State  has  the  right 
of  establishing,  and  from  time  to  time  altering,  its 
municipal  laws  and  domestic  institutions,  independent 
ly  of  every  other  State  and  of  the  General  Govern 
ment,  subject  only  to  the  prohibitions  and  guarantees 


420  MESSAGE    ON 

expressly  set  forth  in  the  Constitution  of  the  United 
States.  The  subjects  thus  left  exclusively  to  the  re 
spective  States  were-  not  designed  or  expected  to 
become  topics  of  national  agitation.  Still,  as  under 
the  Constitution  Congress  has  power  to  make  all  need 
ful  rules  and  regulations  respecting  the  Territories  of 
the  United  States,  every  new  acquisition  of  territory 
has  led  to  discussions  on  the  question  whether  the 
system  of  involuntary  servitude  which  prevails  in 
many  of  the  States  should  or  should  not  be  prohibited 
in  that  Territory.  The  periods  of  excitement  from  this 
cause  which  have  heretofore  occurred  have  been  safe 
ly  passed,  but  during  the  interval  of  whatever  length 
which  may  elapse  before  the  admission  of  the  Territo 
ries  ceded  by  Mexfco  as  States,  it  appears  probable 
that  similar  excitement  will  prevail  to  an  undue  ex 
tent. 

"Under  these  circumstances  I  thought,  and  still 
think,  that  it  was  my  duty  to  endeavor  to  put  it  in 
the  power  of  Congress,  by  the  admission  of  Califor 
nia  and  New  Mexico  as  States,  to  remove  all  occa 
sion  for  the  unnecessary  agitation  of  the  public 
mind. 

"  It  is  understood  that  the  people  of  the  western 
part  of  California  have  formed  a  plan  of  a  State  con 
stitution,  and  will  soon  submit  the  same  to  the  judg 
ment  of  Congress,  and  apply  for  admission  as  a  State. 
This  course  on  their  part,  though  in  accordance  with, 
was  not  adopted  exclusively  in  consequence  of,  any  ex 
pression  of  my  wishes,  inasmuch  as  measures  tending 
to  this  end  had  been  promoted  by  the  officers  sent 
there  by  my  predecessor,  and  were  already  in  active 
progress  of  execution  before  any  communication  from 
me  reached  California.  If  the  proposed  constitution 


CALIFORNIA    AND    NEW    MEXICO.  421 

shall,  when  submitted  to  Congress,  be  found  to  be  in 
compliance  with  the  requisitions  of  the  Constitution  of 
the  United  States,  I  earnestly  recommend  that  it  may 
receive  the  sanction  of  Congress. 

"  The  part  of  California  not  included  in  the  proposed 
State  of  that  name  is  believed  to  be  uninhabited,  ex 
cept  in  a  settlement  of  our  countrymen  in  the  vicinity 
of  Salt  lake. 

"  A  claim  has  been  advanced  by  the  State  of  Texas 
to  a  very  large  portion  of  the  most  populous  district  of 
the  Territory  commonly  designated  by  the  name  of 
New  Mexico.  If  the  people  of  New  Mexico  had 
formed  a  plan  of  a  State  government  for  that  Territory 
as  ceded  by  the  treaty  of  Gaudalupe  Hidalgo,  and  had 
been  admitted  by  Congress  as  a  State,  our  Constitution 
would  have  afforded  the  means  of  obtaining  an  adjust 
ment  of  the  question  of  boundary  with  Texas  by  a 
judicial  decision.  At  present,  however,  no  judicial 
tribunal  has  the  power  of  deciding  that  question,  and  it 
remains  for  Congress  to  devise  some  mode  for  its  ad 
justment.  Meanwhile  I  submit  to  Congress  the 
question,  whether  it  would  be  expedient  before  such 
adjustment  to  establish  a  Territorial  government,  which, 
bv  including  the  district  so  claimed,  would  practically 
decide  the  question  adversely  to  the  State  of  Texas,  or, 
by  excluding  it,  would  decide  it  in  her  favor.  In  my 
opinion  such  a  course  would  not  be  expedient,  espe 
cially  as  the  people  of  this  Territory  still  enjoy  the 
benefit  and  protection  of  their  municipal  laws,  original 
ly  derived  from  Mexico,  and  have  a  military  force 
stationed  there  to  protect  them  against  the  Indians. 
It  is  undoubtedly  true  that  the  property,  lives,  liberties, 
and  religion  of  the  people  of  New  Mexico,  are  better  pro 
tected  than  they  ever  were  before  the  treaty  of  cession. 


422  MESSAGE    ON 

"  Should  Congress,  when  California  shall  present 
herself  for  incorporation  into  the  Union,  annex  a  con 
dition  to  her  admission  as  a  State,  affecting  her  domestic 
institutions,  contrary  to  the  wishes  of  her  people,  and 
even  compel  her  temporarily  to  comply  with  it,  yet  the 
State  could  change  her  constitution  at  any  time  after 
admission,  when  to  her  it  should  seem  expedient.  Any 
attempt  to  deny  to  the  people  of  the  State  the  right  of 
self-government  in  a  matter  which  peculiarly  affects 
themselves,  will  infallibly  be  regarded  by  them  as  an 
invasion  of  their  rights  ;  and,  upon  the  principles  laid 
down  in  our  own  Declaration  of  Independence,  they 
will  certainly  be  sustained  by  the  great  mass  of  the 
American  people.  To  assert  that  they  are  a  conquered 
people,  and  must  as  a  State  submit  to  the  will  of  their 
conquerors,  in  this  regard,  will  meet  with  no  cordial 
response  among  American  freemen.  Great  numbers 
of  them  are  native  citizens  pf  the  United  States,  not 
inferior  to  the  rest  of  our  countrymen  in  intelligence 
and  patriotism  ;  and  no  language  of  menace  to  restrain 
them  in  the  exercise  of  an  undoubted  right,  substan 
tially  guarantied  to  them  by  the  treaty  of  cession  itself, 
shall  ever  be  uttered  by  me,  or  encouraged  and  sus 
tained  by  persons  acting  under  my  authority.  It  is  to 
be  expected  that  in  the  residue  of  the  territory  ceded 
to  us  by  Mexico,  the  people  residing  there  will,  at  the 
time  of  their  incorporation  into  the  Union  as  a  State, 
settle  all  questions  of  domestic  policy  to  suit  themselves. 

"  No  material  inconvenience  will  result  from  the 
want,  for  a  short  period,  of  a  government  established 
by  Congress  over  that  part  of  the  territory  which  lies 
eastward  of  the  new  State  of  California ;  and  the  rea 
sons  for  my  opinion  that  New  Mexico  will  at  no  very 
distant  period  ask  for  admission  into  the  Union,  are 


CALIFORNIA    AND    NEW    MEXICO.  423 

founded  on  unofficial  information,  which  I  suppose  is 
common  to  all  who  have  cared  to  make  inquiries  on 
that  subject. 

"  Seeing,  then,  that  the  question  which  now  excites 
such  painful  sensations  in  the  country  will,  in  the  end, 
certainly  be  settled  by  the  silent  effect  of  causes  inde 
pendent  of  the  action  of  Congress,  I  again  submit  to 
your  wisdom  the  policy  recommended  in  my  annual 
message  of  awaiting  the  salutary  operation  of  those 
causes,  believing  that  we  shall  thus  avoid  the  creation 
of  geographical  parties,  and  secure  the  harmony  of 
feeling  so  necessary  to  the  beneficial  action  of  our  po 
litical  system.  Connected  as  the  Union  is  with  the 
remembrance  of  past  happiness,  the  sense  of  present 
blessings,  and  the  hope  of  future  peace  and  prosperity, 
every  dictate  of  wisdom,  every  feeling  of  duty,  and 
every  emotion  of  patriotism  tend  to  inspire  fidelity  and 
devotion  to  it,  and  admonish  us  cautiously  to  avoid 
any  unnecessary  controversy  which  can  either  endanger 
it  or  impair  its  strength,  the  chief  element  of  which  is 
to  be  found  in  the  regard  and  affection  of  the  people 
for  each  other." 

Though  the  recommendation  in  regard  to  the  proper 
mode  of  settling  the  question  to  which  it  more  particu 
larly  referred,  met  the  cordial  approbation  of  many  of 
the  wisest  and  most  considerate  men  in  every  part  of 
the  Union,  yet  it  cannot  be  denied  that  it  received 
either  a  cold  support  or  the  open  opposition  of  many 
others,  both  in  and  out  of  Congress.  But  this  opposi 
tion  arose  principally  from  a  misapprehension  of  the 
real  nature  of  the  President's  proposition,  and  a  mis 
taken  view  of  its  operation  upon  the  territorial  ques 
tion.  And  the  more  the  suggestions  of  the  Executive 
were  discussed  and  reflected  upon,  the  more  they  com- 


424  HIS    POLICY    AS    EXECUTIVE. 

mended  themselves  to  the  people.  So  evidently  was 
this  the  case,  that  all  moderate  and  reasonable  men 
everywhere  and  of  every  party  were  becoming  to 
look  upon  it  as  the  means  of  deliverance  from  the  dan 
gers  that  threaten  the  Union,  and  were  rallying  to  its 
support.  And  if  General  Taylor  had  lived  but  a  few 
weeks  longer,  there  can  be  little  doubt  that  it  would 
have  been  adopted  by  Congress,  and  sanctioned  by  the 
people.  The  subject  is  still  before  Congress,  and 
whether  the  spirit  of  the  President's  recommendation 
will  be  carried  out,  or  some  other  plan  thought  to  be 
wiser,  and  better  adapted  to  the  end  proposed,  is  yet 
for  time  to  reveal. 

Indeed,  it  may  be  said  of  General  Taylor's  policy  as 
Executive,  as  of  his  character,  that  the  more  it  was 
developed  to  the  public,  and  the  better  it  was  under 
stood,  the  more  warmly  was  it  commended,  and  the 
more  evidently  approved.  Every  act  of  his  official 
life,  seemed  to  have  been  dictated  by  a  spirit  of  pro 
found  wisdom,  enlarged  statesmanship,  and  pure  patriot 
ism,  that  went  right  home  to  the  American  heart ;  arid 
that  sooner  or  later  must  meet  a  cordial  response  from 
the  people  everywhere.  His  intercourse  with  foreign 
nations,  his  recommendations  to  Congress,  his  whole 
domestic  policy,  were  prompted  by  so  clear  a  regard 
for  the  interests  as  well  as  the  honor  of  the  country, 
that  an  unwilling  approval  was  wrung  from  even  the 
bitterest  of  his  opponents.  He  proved  to  the  world 
by  his  treatment  of  the  expedition  against  Cuba  that 
he  was  as  prompt  to  do  justice  to  foreign  nations  as  he 
was  to  defend  the  honor  of  his  own  ;  and  he  has  shown 
by  the  various  advantageous  treaties  negotiated  under 
his  direction  that  his  abilities  as  a  statesman  were  not 
excelled  by  his  merits  as  a  soldier. 


EXPOSURE  ON  THE  FOURTH  OF  JULY.      425 

But  great,  and  wise,  and  good  as  General  Taylor 
had  shown  himself  to  be,  no  less  as  President  of  the 
United  States  than  as  commander  of  our  armies 
abroad ;  and  as  necessary  as  he  was  almost  universally 
believed  to  be,  to  the  harmony  and  welfare  of  the  Un 
ion,  an  All- wise  Providence  had  in  store  a  far  different 
destiny  for  him.  The  Ruler  of  the  affairs  of  men  and 
nations  had  decreed  that  the  Patriot,  Statesman,  and 
Sage,  whom  all  so  revered  and  loved,  was  not  to  fulfil 
the  career  of  honor  and  usefulness  which  others  had 
assigned  him. 

On  the  morning  of  the  Fourth  of  July,*  the  Presi 
dent,  in  company  wit-h  his  family  and  several  of  the 
Heads  of  Departments,  attended  the  celebration  of 
the  anniversary  of  American  Independence  of  the 
Washington  National  Monument  Association,  and  lis 
tened  to  the  oration  of  the  Hon.  H.  S.  Foote,  in  appa 
rently  as  good  health  and  as  fine  spirits  as  he  had 
exhibited  for  months.  And  even  up  to  five  o'clock  of 
that  day  he  had  shown  no  symptoms  of  illness. 
However,  while  upon  the  ground,  he  partook  freely  of 
water ;  and  then,  after  considerable  exercise  in  walk 
ing,  and  exposure  to  the  sun,  he  drove  home.  Arrived 
at  the  mansion,  he  "  felt,"  as  he  expressed  himself  to 
Dr.  Weatherspoon,  "  very  hungry  ;"  and  without  re 
flecting  that  he  was  in  an  unfit  condition  to  indulge 
freely  in  fruits,  &c.,  he  called  for  some  refreshments, 
and  ate  heartily  of  cherries  and  wild  berries,  which  he 
washed  down  with  copious  draughts  of  iced  milk  and 
water.  At  dinner  he  applied  himself  again  to  the 
cherries,  against  the  remonstrances  of  Dr.  Weather- 
spoon,  and  in  an  hour  was  seized  by  cramps,  which 

*  The  principal  facts  connected  with  Gen.  Taylor's  last  illness,  are 
taken  from  the  Philadelphia  Bulletin,  and  are  no  doubt  nearly  correct 


426  ATTACKED    BY    CHOLERA    MORBU3. 

soon  took  the  form  of  violent  cholera  morbus,  His 
physician  prescribed  the  usual  remedies,  but  for  a  time 
he  resisted,  deeming  the  attack  only  temporary,  and 
that  it  would  yield  finally  to  his  naturally  strong  con 
stitution.  Toward  midnight,  instead  of  relief,  the 
attack  increased  in  violence  and  threatened  desperate 
results,  if  not  speedily  arrested.  He  continued  in  this 
condition,  without  much  change,  until  the  evening  of 
the  6th.  It  was  then  deemed  advisable  to  call  in  other 
physicians.  Accordingly,  Messrs.  Hall  and  Coolidge 
were  invited,  and  promptly  responded ;  but  they 
thought  it  further  advisable  to  send  for  the  assistance 
of  Dr.  Wood  of  Baltimore.  That  gentleman  attended 
immediately,  and  in  the  same  cars  came  Colonel  Tay 
lor,  the  brother  of  the  General,  and  his  family,  who 
had  likewise  been  telegraphed  for.  By  this  time  (the 
morning  of  the  8th),  the  disease  had  made  rapid  en 
croachments  on  his  frame ;  but  by  the  united  skill  of 
these  eminent  practitioners  the  visible  stages  of  the 
cholera  morbus  were  soon  after  checked.  However, 
fever  ensued,  and  from  a  remittent  character,  it  took 
the  form  of  typhoid.  Anxiety  now  began  to  manifest 
itself,  not  only  among  the  exalted  patient's  family,  but 
among  the  physicians  themselves.  His  chances  of  life 
hung  upon  a  thread. 

Meanwhile,  there  were  other  causes,  beside  merely 
eating  and  drinking,  that  operated  fatally  upon  his  sys 
tem.  To  his  medical  attendant  on  the  8th,  he  said  : — 
"  I  should  not  be  surprised  if  this  were  to  terminate  in 
my  death.  I  did  not  expect  to  encounter  what  has  be 
set  me  since  my  elevation  to  the  Presidency.  God 
knows  that  I  have  endeavored  to  fulfil  what  I  conceived 
to  be  an  honest  duty.  But  I  have  been  mistaken.  My 
motives  have  been  misconstrued,  and  my  feelings  most 


PKOG1C3S    OF   THE    Bit  1  4C7 

grossly  outraged."  He  alluded  doubtless  to  the  slavery 
question,  and  the  manner  in  which  he  had  been  vari 
ously  assailed. 

Toward  the  evening  of  the  8th,  the  chronic  type  of 
dysentery  which  had  set  in  disappeared,  and  vomiting 
ensued.  Dr.  Joubron  of  Philadelphia,  who  is  emi 
nent  in  these  branches  of  treatment,  was  telegraphed, 
and  a  reply  received  from  him  that  he  would  arrive 
that  evening  ;  but,  alas !  too  late  to  be  of  service. 

The  condition  of  the  patient  was  now  at  its  critical 
point.  The  sick  chamber  was  restored  to  solemn  si 
lence,  attendance  placed  on  the  outside,  and  none  per 
mitted  to  enter  except  the  physicians.  The  family  of 
with  Col.  Bliss,  and  other  relatives  of  the 
deceased,  occupied  a  room  adjoining,  where  they  re 
mained,  overwhelmed  with  grief,  and  refusing  even  the 
indulgences  of  necessary  repose.  Bulletins  were  hourly 
sent  out,  to  inform  the  masses  of  the  changes  observa 
ble  in  the  patient ;  but  these  so  slightly  varied  for  the 
better,  that  all  hope  of  his  safety  was  dispelled  at  11 
o'clock.  From  that  period  until  daylight  the  utmost 
anxiety  preva 

The  9th  dawned,  but  gloom  still  surrounded  the  Ex 
ecutive  mansion.  Thousands  began  to  flood  the  ave- 
i  s  leading  thither,  and  throughout  the  day  a  messen 
ger  was  kept  posted  at  the  main  door  to  answer  the 
interrogatories  that  were  incessantly  poured  upon  him. 
At  10  o'clock  A.  M.  a  report  circulated  that  the  Presi 
dent  had  rallied — at  1  P.  M.  that  he  was  dead.  The 
consternation  created  by  the  latter  rumor  was  happily 
relieved  by  an  official  bulletin  at  3£r  that  the  crisis  had 
been  passed,  and  that  he  was  then  beyond  immediate 
danger.  Bells  rang  for  joy,  and  even  the  boys  in  the 
streets  lit  bonfires,  and  shouted  in  childish  gratulation. 


428  DECLARED  PAST  RECOVERY. 

The  stream  now  to  the  White  House  was  greater  than 
ever,  but  about  seven  in  the  evening  the  pall  of  gloom 
again  shrouded  all  faces,  for  it  was  announced  that  the 
illustrious  hero  was  dying. 

At  5 — two  hours  previous — the  physicians  refused  to 
administer  any  more  medicine,  considering  his  case 
hopeless  and  in  the  hands  of  God.  The  heads  of  De 
partment,  corporate  authorities  of  the  city,  diplomatic 
body,  and  officers  of  the  army  and  navy,  paid  their  re 
spects  often  during  the  day,  and  seemed  to  entertain 
lively  feelings  of  solicitude  for  his  safety.  Everything 
that  could  contribute  to  the  comfort  of  the  sick,  thence 
forward,  was  extended ;  but  the  sands  of  life  had  run 
out,  and  his  hours  were  numbered. 

At  nine  the  vomiting  partially  ceased,  as  all  pain  had 
disappeared  about  four  in  the  afternoon.  But  the  sys 
tem  had  wasted  under  the  shock,  and  gradually  sunk 
beyond  recovery.  Green  matter  was  thrown  from  his 
stomach  at  intervals  until  twenty  minutes  past  10 — 
that  peculiar  coloration  of  bile  that  indicates  the  disso 
lution  of  .patients  thus  seized.  At  35  minutes  past  10 
his  wife,  and  other  members  of  his  family,  were  called 
to  his  bedside,  to  receive  his  last  earthly  adieu — a  fare 
well  that  the  stoutest  could  not  gaze  upon  without  a 
tear.  It  must  be  remembered  that  his  was  a  domes 
tic  life  ;  and  his  beloved  partner  felt  for  the  first  time 
the  loneliness  of  a  bereaved  heart,  and  understood  noth 
ing  of  that  rigid  discipline  that  would  have  dictated  to 
her,  "  Go  and  weep  in  solitude — society  decrees  it." 
Her  abandonment  and  grief  were  truly  heart-piercing. 

At  a  few  minutes  past  ten,  as  already  stated,  it  became 
apparent  that  the  soul  of  the  hero  and  conqueror  was 
about  taking  its  rest.  The  medical  yielded  to  the  spir 
itual  agent,  whose  office  it  was  to  prepare  for  the  ap- 


PS 

3 

jjl 

5 

Q 


DYING    DECLARATION.  429 

proach  of  the  King  of  Terrors.  But  there  was  nothing 
in  the  conduct  of  the  sufferer  to  indicate  that  he  feared 
the  mortal  leap.  In  the  secret  communion  of  his  heart 
with  Heaven,  who  can  say  that  he  died  not  a  Chris 
tian  ?  After  prayer  he  seemed  refreshed,  and  called  for 
a  glass  of  water.  It  was  given  him,  and  he  drank 
sparingly.  He  then  inquired  of  Dr.  Weatherspoon, 
how  long  he  thought  he  would  live,  to  which  the  latter 
replied,  "  I  hope,  General,  for  many  years  ;"  but  think 
ing  this  a  useless  deception,  he  added,  "  I  fear  not 
many  hours."  *'  I  know  it,"  was  the  response  ;  then, 
after  musing  a  moment,  he  asked  for  his  family.  They 
were  sent  for,  and  soon  entered.  The  interview  was 
indescribably  affecting.  The  pain,  which  had  afflicted 
the  patient  in  the  side  of  his  chest,  ceased  ;  and  attend 
ed  by  other  symptoms  of  ease,  it  was  thought  he  might 
endure  till  morning.  But  he  himself  knew  better,  and 
so  declared  in  a  quite  audible  voice.  He  was  asked 
whether  he  was  comfortable.  "  Very,"  he  replied, 
"  But  the  storm  in  passing,  has  swept  away  the  trunk." 
Immediately  after  he  added,  with  the  consciousness  of 
an  upright  and  pure  life,  and  an  honest  heart,  "  I  HAVE 

ENDEAVORED  TO  DO  MY  DUTY,  I  AM  PREPARED  TO  DIE. 
MY  ONLY  REGRET  IS  IN  LEAVING  BEHIND  ME  THE  FRIENDS 

I  LOVE."  These  were  the  last  words  of  the  great  and 
good  man,  and  they  were  characteristic  of  his  whole 
life  and  of  his  noble  mind.  They  are  the  words  of  a 
Hero,  a  Patriot,  and  a  Sage.  They  show  the  ruling 
principle,  strong  in  death.  At  his  closing  hour,  as  in 
his  early  manhood,  and  through  his  whole  life,  duty  was 
the  ever-active  and  controlling  principle  of  ZACHARY 
TAYLOR.  Ready  and  Faithful,  had  been  the  motto 
blazened  upon  the  arms  of  General  Taylor's  ancestors. 


430  HIS    DEVOTION    TO 

With  Ready  and  Faithful  on  his  lips,  he  was  gathered 
to  his  fathers. 

"  I  am  prepared  to  die — I  have  faithfully  endeavored 
to  do  my  duty !"  These  words,  spoken  by  an  aged  pa 
triot  on  the  borders  of  the  grave,  are  simple  and  sub 
lime,  and  suggest  to  the  mind  the  affecting  declaration 
of  the  apostle  Paul :  "  For  I  am  ready  to  be  offered, 
and  the  time  of  my  departure  is  at  hand.  I  have  fought 
the  good  fight,  T  have  finished  my  course,  I  have  kept 
the  faith."  The  solemn  sentence  \vith  which  General 
Taylor  closed  his  eyes  upon  the  world,  deserve  to  be  en 
graven  upon  his  monument,  as  an  illustration  of  his 
character  and  a  history  of  his  life.  It  ought  to  studied 
and  imitated  by  all  living  men,  that  they  may  live  so  as 
to  know  how  so  well  to  die. 

Every  American  will  earnestly  respond  to  the  modest 
declaration  of  the  departed  hero — "  I  have  faithfully  en 
deavored  to  do  my  duty,'/  and  affirm  that  it  is  true. 
Amid  the  snows  of  the  northwest,  in  the  swamps  of 
Florida,  upon  the  fields  of  Palo  Alto,  Resaca  de  la  Pal- 
ma,  and  Monterey  ;  amid  the  red  ravines  of  Buena  Vista, 
and  in  the  lofty  elevation  of  the  Presidential  chair,  duty 
was  the  polar  star  of  Zachary  Taylor.  Ordered  to  the 
Rio  Grande  with  an  insufficient  force,  he  obeyed  with 
alacrity,  declaring,  "  Should  the  enemy  obstruct  my 
way,  in  whatever  numbers,  I  will  fight  him."  Stripped 
of  his  veteran  regulars  at  Saltillo,  he  advanced  at  the 
head  of  Jive  thousand  militia,  with  a  firm  and  cheerful 
front,  to  meet  twenty  thousand  picked  troops  of  Mexico, 
ready  to  sacrifice  his  life  rather  than  abandon  his 
duty.  Called  by  a  grateful  people  to  the  Presidential 
chair,  he  honestly  sought  to  decline  a  station,  for  the 
responsibilities  of  which  he  repeatedly  declared  that  he 
felt  himself  incapable.  But  finding  that  the  popular 


A    SENSE    OF    DUTY.  431 

mandate  would  not  be  withdrawn,  he  yielded,  solely  from 
his  constant  principle  of  obedience  to  the  voice  of  his 
country.  Occupying  the  presidential  chair,  he  called 
around  him  counsellors,  in  whose  ability  and  experi 
ence  he  confided,  and  honestly  and  industriously  sought 
"  according  to  the  best  lights  before  him,"  to  perform 
the  obligations  of  his  new  and  most  responsible  posi 
tion.  He  came  to  the  government  at  a  period  more 
perilous  to  its  stability  and  peace  than  any  which  has 
occurred  since  its  foundation,  and  he  has  fallen  a  victim 
to  the  harrassing  and  terrible  anxieties  which  a  man 
must  suffer,  who,  under  such  circumstances,  "  faith 
fully  endeavors  to  discharge  his  duty."  At  the  shrine 
of  duty  he  was  a  worshipper  in  life,  and  a  martyr  in 
death. 

Generous,  intrepid  Old  Chief!  Enviable  indeed  is  a 
remorse  like  thine  !  Illustrious  thy  lot,  to  do  such  brave 
and  noble  deeds  as  shall  gild  the  pages  of  thy  country's 
history  for  ages  after  thy  sun  has  set !  Glorious  to  sleep 
on  a  hero's  couch,  wrapped  in  thy  country's  flag,  and 
followed  to  the  grave  by  a  nation's  notes  of  lamenta 
tion.  But  better  far  than  these — better  than  brilliant 
plume  and  gleaming  sword — better  than  all  earthly 
recompense  and  honor,  to  stand  at  the  gate- way  of  the 
tomb  with  hoary  locks  clothed  with  a  crown  of  right- 
*  eousness,  and  to  be  able  to  declare,  with  expiring  lips — 

"  I  AM  READY  TO  DIE.  I  HAVE  FAITHFULLY  E3VDEAVORED 
TO  DO  MY  DUTY." 

Equally  characteristic  of  his  brave  and  firm  heart, 
were  the  words  spoken  to  one  of  his  physicians  shortly 
before,  and  after  he  had  himself  abandoned  all  hope  of 
life.  "  You  have  fought  a  good  fight"  he  calmly  re 
marked,  "  but  you  cannot  make  a  stand."* 

He  essayed  to  speak  to  his  wife  a  few  moments  be- 


432  DEATH    BED    SCENE. 

fore  his  demise,  but  his  voice  failed  hini.  Dr.  Weath- 
erspoon  administered  a  stimulus,  but  it  was  powerless 
in  reviving  the  functions.  The  soul  of  the  hero  had 
fled. 

"  The  lightnings  may  flash,  and  the  thunder  may  rattle, 
He  heeds  not,  he  hears  not,  he's  free  from  all  pain; 
He  sleeps  his  last  sleep,  he  has  fought  his  last  battle, 
No  sound  can  awake  him  to  glory  again." 

Congestion  of  the  brain  and  stomach  began  at  half- 
past  8  o'clock,  so  that  no  earthly  power  could  stay  the 
fatal  result  which  has  plunged  the  nation  in  mourning. 
The  unwearied  attentions  of  his  medical  advisers  de 
served  credit,  and  their  skill  is  unquestionable.  It  is 
believed,  however,  that  had  the  mind  of  the  President 
not  been  laboring  under  embarrassment  and  affliction, 
proceeding  from  causes  named,  the  disease  could  have 
been  checked  and  his  life  saved.  But  now  that  he  is 
gone,  it  is  vain  to  speculate.  One  succeeds  him  whose 
sensitiveness  is  not  quite  so  keen,  because  intimate  with 
all  the  trials  of  politics,  and  therefore  possessing  forti 
tude  sufficient  to  withstand  them. 

Those  surrounding  the  dying  President  at  the  mo 
ment,  were  his  own  family,  including  Col.  Bliss,  Col. 
Taylor  and  family,  Jefferson  Davis  and  family,  Vice 
President  Fillmore,  several  Senators  and  Members, 
several  members  of  the  diplomatic  corps,  the  Cabinet, 
Benton,  Hale,  Wood,  Coolidge,  and  Weatherspoon,  and 
a  number  of  intimate  friends.  Without  the  mansion, 
the  grounds  were  literally  covered  with  an  immense 
multitude,  who  continued  to  linger  in  groups  until  after 
midnight,  scarcely  crediting  the  intelligence,  though 
officially  announced. 

General  Taylor  died  without  a  struggle.     It  was  a 


MEETING    OF    THE    CABINET.  433 

kind  of  sinking  into  eternity,  without  feeling  its  pain, 
or  experiencing  its  horrors.  When  all  was  over,  the 
chamber  was  cleared,  until  the  undertakers  had  con 
cluded  their  duties.  The  body  was  encased  in  ice, 
and  ordered  to  remain  where  it  was  until  morning, 
when  it  was  finally  robed  for  the  grave,  and  laid  out 
in  state  in  the  east  room.  Thus  ended  the  melancholy 
siege  of  disease  against  a  strong  bulwark  of  nature. 

The  Cabinet  immediately  after  the  death  of  the  Pres 
ident,  held  an  informal  meeting,  at  which  a  paper  was 
drawn  up,  and  signed  by  the  members,  in  which  his 
decease  was  set  forth,  and  officially  communicated  to 
Mr.  Fillmore,  as  his  constitutional  successor.  Mr.  F. 
in  return  thanked  them  for  their  courtesy,  and  in  a 
brief  epistle,  deplored  the  event  that  had  just  taken 
place.  He  further  invited  them  to  a  council  this 
morning,  for  the  purpose  of  executing  such  measures, 
as  under  the  circumstances  appeared  advisable.  These 
proceedings  terminated  the  night. 

As  soon  as  the  death  of  General  Taylor  was  an 
nounced,  several  of  the  bells  of  the  city  were  tolled, 
and  the  solemn  concert  was  kept  up  through  the  night 
and  next  day  ;  and  late  as  the  hour  of  his  death  was, 
the  melancholy  intelligence  was  known  that  night  to 
almost  every  citizen  of  the  Capital,  and  was  on  its  way 
with  lightning  speed  to  the  remotest  section  of  the 
Union. 

At  sunrise  the  next  morning  the  national  colors, 
shrouded  in  black,  were  disclosed  at  half  mast.  All 
the  public  offices  were  closed  and  arrayed  in  the  same 
sable  colors,  even  to  the  National  Monument.  The 
Executive  mansion  was  literally  covered  with  black, 
and  the  badge  was  worn  on  the  housings  of  the  horses 
attached  to  the  Secretaries'  carriages.  Business  of  all 
19 


434  UNIVERSAL    GRIEF 

kinds  was  suspended,  and  a  stream  of  living  objects 
kept  pouring  into  the  President's  grounds,  and  besieg 
ing  the  edifice  until  as  late  as  11  o'clock.  From  the 
War  and  Navy  and  State  Departments,  orders  were 
transmitted  to  stations  abroad,  communicating  the 
awful  tidings  and  directing  appropriate  honors  in  con 
sequence.  The  Executive  mansion  was  open  until 
2  P.  M.  during  which  time  the  public  availed  them 
selves  of  the  opportunity  to  visit  the  remains.  They 
were  contained  in  one  of  Fisk  and  Raymond's  metallic 
coffins,  and  exposed  on  a  bier  in  the  East  Room.  The 
body  is  greatly  emaciated,  but  the  lineaments  of  the 
face  are  preserved  tolerably  perfect.  Perhaps  the 
'death  of  Washington  did  not  inspire  more  real  sorrow 
and  regret  than  that  of  President  Taylor.  Every  face 
wore  a  mournful  shade,  and  none  are  so  poor  in  char 
ity  as  to  deny  him  the  tribute  of  a  sigh.  Groups  beset 
the  corners  of  the  streets,  and  not  a  passing  vehicle 
but  what  contains  a  countenance  of  grief.  The  Mayor 
of  the  city  ordered  appropriate  honors,  and,  truly,  it 
may  be  said,  we  live  "with  the  willow  and  cypress 
waving  around  us." 

The  chief  incidents  that  transpired  during  his  illness, 
are  those  embodied  in  the  above.  He  regretted  in 
plain  language,  and  so  many  words,  the  crusade  waged 
against  him,  and  thought  that  parties  failed  to  do  him 
justice.  The  course  pursued  by  Southern  ultraists 
irritated  him,  but  only  because  they  made  him  respon 
sible  for  conduct  with  which  he  had  nothing  to  do. 
He  deplored  the  strife  which  prevails,  but  did  not  hesi 
tate  to  ascribe  the  cause  to  sectional  demagogues. 
The  dictatorial  license  assumed  by  his  opponents  dis 
pleased  him ;  but  when  it  was  hinted  that  his  own 
friends  would  move  a  vote  of  censure,  he  sunk  under 


AT  THE  PRESIDENT'S  DEATH.  435 

the  blow  and  conceived  that  to  be  the  most  fatal  stab 
of  all.  He  was  resolved,  however,  to  pursue  the  line 
of  policy  to  which  he  had  thus  long  adhered,  though 
convinced  that  gentlemen  of  the  South  meditated  his 
ruin.  This,  while  it  preyed  upon  his  mind,  only  deter 
mined  him  the  more  to  stand  by  his  doctrines. 

The  news  of  General  Taylor's  .death  was  received 
with  overwhelming  regret  everywhere  by  all  classes 
and  parties  and  sects,  as  it  became  disseminated  over 
the  country.  It  fell  with  almost  stunning  effect  upon 
the  public  mind.  North  and  South,  East  and  West, 
it  was  viewed  as  a  dire  national  calamity.  The  first 
report  of  his  death  was  so  alarming,  and  so  wholly  un 
expected,  that  it  was  received  with  general  incredulity, 
and  the  telegraph  stations,  newspaper  offices,  and  every 
place  where  there  was  a  hope  of  obtaining  informa 
tion,  were  literally  besieged  for  days  by  people  for 
miles  around,  anxiously  inquiring  into  the  truth  of  the 
painful  and  startling  rumor.  The  people  seemed  de 
termined  not  to  believe  the  afflicting  report  until  con 
firmed  by  the  most  positive  and  direct  authority. 
When  there  was  no  longer  any  room  to  doubt  its  sad 
reality,  they  begun  to  exhibit  the  evidence  of  the  deep 
sorrow  the  event  was  so  well  calculated  to  inspire ; 
and  the  same  tokens  of  hearfelt  grief  that  pervaded 
the  Capital  were  visible  throughout  the  length  and 
breadth  of  the  entire  Union. 

The  melancholy  calamity  was  officially  communi 
cated  to  both  Houses  of  Congress  by  the  Hon.  Millard 
Fillmore,  now  President  of  the  United  States,  in  the 
following  appropriate  and  feeling  message  : — 


436  FILLMORE'S  MESSAGE. 

WASHIXGTOX,  July  10,  1850. 

FELLOW-CITIZENS  OF  THE  SENATE 

AND  OF  THE  HoUSE  OF  REPRESENTATIVES; 

I  have  to  perform  the  melancholy  duty  of  announ 
cing  to  you  that  it  has  pleased  Almighty  God  to  remove 
from  this  life  ZACHARY  TAYLOR,  late  President  of  the 
United  States.  He  deceased  last  evening,  at  the  hour 
of  half-past  ten  o'clock,  in  the  midst  of  his  family,  and 
surrounded  by  affectionate  friends,  calmly,  and  in,  the 
full  possession  of  all  his  faculties.  Among  his  last 
words  were  these,  which  he  uttered  with  emphatic  dis 
tinctness  :  "  I  have  always  done  my  duty — I  am  ready 
to  die ;  my  only  regret  is  for  the  friends  I  leave  be 
hind  me." 

Having  announced  to  you,  fellow-citizens,  this  most 
afflicting  bereavement,  and  assuring  you  that  it  has 
penetrated  no  heart  with  deeper'  grief  than  mine,  it  re 
mains  for  me  to  say  that  I  propose,  this  day,  at  12 
o'clock,  in  the  hall  of  the  House  of  Representatives, 
in  the  presence  of  both  Houses  of  Congress,  to  take 
the  oath  prescribed  by  the  Constitution,  to  enable  me 
to  enter  on  the  execution  of  the  office  which  this  event 
has  devolved  on  me. 

MILLARD  FILLMORE. 

Resolutions  were  adopted  in  both  Houses  to  meet 
in  the  Hall  of  the  House  of  Representatives  to  be 
present  at  the  administration  of  the  oath  of  office 
required  by  the  Constitution  to  Mr.  Fillmore.  The 
interesting  ceremony  having  been  performed,  the  Sen 
ators  returned  to  their  Chamber,  when  resolutions 
were  offered  by  Mr.  Downs,  of  Louisiana,  for  making 
suitable  arrangements  for  the  funeral  ceremonies,  pre 
faced  by  an  eloquent,  chaste,  and  worthy  tribute  to  the 


MR.  WEBSTER'S  SPEECH.  437 

memory  of  the  deceased  patriot  and  hero.  Beautiful 
and  touching  tributes  of  respect  and  veneration  were 
also  paid  to  his  memory  by  Mr.  Webster,  Mr.  Cass, 
Mr.  Pearce,  Mr.  King,  and  Mr.  Berrien.  The  re 
marks  of  Mr.  Webster  are  given  below  as  portraying 
in  true  and  glowing  colors  the  many  admirable  and 
remarkable  traits  of  General  Taylors  life  and  charac 
ter.  Those  of  other  Senators  were  equally  appropri 
ate  and  eloquent,  but  they  are  necessarily  omitted. 

Mr.  WEBSTER  said :  Mr.  Secretary,  at  a  time  when  the  general 
mass  of  our  fellow-citizens  enjoy  remarkable  health  and  happiness 
throughout  the  whole  country,  it  has  pleased  Divine  Providence  to 
visit  the  two  Houses  of  Congress,  and  especially  this  House,  with  re 
peated  occasions  for  mourning  and  lamentation.  Since  the  commence 
ment  of  the  session,  we  have  followed  two  of  our  own  members  to 
their  last  home ;  and  we  are  now  called  upon,  in  conjunction  with  the 
other  branch  of  legislature,  and  in  full  sympathy  with  that  deep  tone 
of  affliction  which  I  am  sure  is  felt  throughout  all  the  country,  to  take 
part  in  the  last  and  due  solemnities  of  the  late  President  of  the  United 
States. 

Truly,  sir,  was  it  said  in  the  communication  read  to  us,  that  a  "  great 
man  has  fallen  among  us."  The  late  President  of  the  United  States, 
originally  a  soldier  by  profession,  having  gone  through  a  long  and 
splendid  career  of  military  service,  had  at  the  close  of  the  late  war  with 
Mexico,  become  so  much  endeared  to  the  people  of  the  United  States, 
and  had  inspired  them  with  so  high  a  degree  of  regard  and  confidence, 
that  without  solicitations  or  application,  without  pursuing  any  devious 
paths  of  policy,  or  turning  a  hair's  breadth  to  the  right  or  the  left  from 
the  path  of  duty,  a  great,  and  powerful,  and  generous  people  saw  fit, 
by  popular  vote  and  voice,  to  confer  upon  him  the  highest  civil  authori 
ty  in  the  nation.  "We  cannot  forget  that,  as  in  other  instances  so  in  this, 
the  public  feeling  was  won  and  carried  away,  in  some  degree,  by  the 
eclat  of  military  renown.  So  it  has  been  always ;  and  so  it  always 
will  be,  because  high  respect  for  noble  feats  in  arms  has  been,  and  always 
will  be  outpoured  from  the  hearts  of  the  members  of  a  popular  Govern 
ment.  But  it  will  be  a  great  mistake  to  suppose  that  the  late  President 
of  the  United  States  owed  his  advancement  to  high  civil  trust,  or  his 
great  acceptability  with  the  peeple,  to  military  talent  or  ability  alone. 
I  believe,  sir,  that  associated  with  the  highest  admiration  for  those  qual- 


30 


438  MR.  WEBSTER'S  SPEECH. 

ities  possessed  by  him,  there  was  spread  throughout  the  community  a 
high  degree  of  confidence  and  faith  in  his  integrity  and  honor  and  up 
rightness  as  a  man.  I  believe  he  was  especially  regarded  as  both  a  firm 
and  a  mild  man  in  the  exercise  of  authority.  And  I  have  observed 
more  than  once  in  this  and  in  other  popular  Governments  that  the 
prevalent  motive  with  the  masses  of  mankind  for  conferring  high 
power  on  individuals,  is  a  confidence  in  their  mildness,  their  paternal, 
protecting,  secure,  and  safe  character.  The  people  naturally  feel  safe 
where  they  feel  themselves  to  be  under  the  control  and  protection  of 
sober  counsel,  of  impartial  minds,  and  a  general  paternal  superintend 
ence. 

I  suppose,  sir,  that  no  case  ever  happened  in  the  very  best  days  of 
the  Roman  republic,  when  any  man  found  himself  clothed  in  the 
highest  authority  in  the  State,  under  circumstances  more  repelling  all 
suspicion  of  personal  application,  all  suspicion  of  pursuing  any  crooked 
path  in  politics,  or  all  suspicion  of  having  been  actuated  by  sinister 
views  and  purposes,  than  in  the  case  of  the  worthy,  and  eminent,  and 
distinguished,  and  good  man  whose  death  we  now  deplore. 

He  has  left  to  the  people  of  his  country  a  legacy  in  this.  He  has 
left  them  a  bright  example,  which  addresses  itself  with  peculiar  force 
to  the  young  and  rising  generation ;  for  it  tells  them  that  there  is  a 
path  to  the  highest  degree  of  renown — straight,  onward,  steady,  with 
out  change  or  deviation. 

Mr.  Secretary,  my  friend  from  Louisiana  (Mr.  DOWNS)  has  detailed 
briefly  the  events  in  the  military  career  of  General  TAYLOR.  His  ser 
vice  through  life  was  mostly  on  the  frontier,  and  always  a  hard  sennce 
— often  in  combat  with  the  tribes  of  Indians  all  along  the  frontier  for 
so  many  thousands  of  miles.  It  has  been  justly  remarked  by  one  of  « 
the  most  eloquent  men  whose  voice  was  ever  heard  in  these  houses, 
that  it  is  not  in  Indian  wars  that  heroes  are  celebrated,  but  it  is  there 
that  they  are  formed.  The  hard  service,  the  stern  discipline,  devolving 
upon  all  those  who  have  a  great  extent  of  frontier  to  defend,  and  often 
with  irregular  troops  of  their  own,  being  called  on  suddenly  to  enter 
into  contest  with  savages,  to  study  the  habits  of  savage  life  and  sav 
age  war,  in  order  to  foresee  and  overcome  their  stratagems — all  these 
things  tend  to  make  hardy  military  character. 

For  a  very  short  time,  sir,  I  had  a  connexion  with  the  Executive  gov 
ernment  of  this  country  ;  and  at  that  time  very  perilous,  embarrassing 
circumstances  existed  between  the  United  States  and  the  Indians  on 
the  borders,  and  war  was  actually  raging  between  the  United  States, 
and  the  Florida  tribes,  and  I  very  well  remember  that  those  who  took 
counsel  together  on  that  occasion  officially,  and  who  were  desirous  of 


MR.  WEBSTER'S  SPEECH.  439 

placing  the  military  command  in  the  safest  hands,  came  to  the  conclu 
sion  that  there  was  no  man  in  the  service  more  fully  uniting  the  quali 
ties  of  military  ability  and  great  personal  prudence  than  ZACHARY 
TAYLOR  ;  and  he  was,  of  course,  appointed  to  the  command. 

Unfortunately,  his  career  at  the  head  of  this  Government  was  short. 
For  my  part,  in  all  that  I  have  seen  of  him,  I  have  found  much  to're- 
pect  and  nothing  to  condemn.  The  circumstances  under  which  he 
conducted  the  Government  for  the  few  months  he  was  at  the  head  of 
it,  have  been  such  as  perhaps  not  to  give  to  him  a  very  favorable,  cer 
tainly  not  a  long  opportunity  of  developing  his  principles  and  his  policy, 
and  to  carry  them  out ;  but  I  believe  he  has  left  on  the  minds  of  the 
country  a  strong  impression,  first,  of  his  absolute  honesty  and  integrity 
of  character ;  next,  of  his  sound  practical  good  M  nse ;  and,  lastly,  of 
the  mildness,  kindness,  and  friendliness  of  his  temper  towards  all  his 
countrymen. 

But  he  is  gone.  He  is  ours  no  more,  except  in  the  force  of  his  ex 
ample.  Sir,  I  heard  with  infinite  delight  the  sentiments  expressed  by 
my  honorable  friend  from  Louisiana,  (}..r.  DOWNS,)  who  has  just  resum 
ed  his  seat,  when  he  earnestly  prayed  that  this  event  might  be  used  to 
soften  animosities,  to  allay  party  c>  iminations  and  recriminations,  and 
to  restore  fellowship  and  good  feeling  among  the  various  sections  of 
the  Union.  Mr.  Secretary,  great  as  is  our  loss  to-day,  if  these  inesti 
mable  and  inappreciable  blessings  shall  have  been  secured  to  us,  even 
by  the  death  of  ZACHARY  TAYLOR,  they  have  not  been  purchased  at 
too  high  a  price ;  and  if  his  spirit,  from  the  regions  to  which  he  has 
ascended,  could  see  these  results  flowing  from  his  unexpected  and 
untimely  end — if  he  could  see  that  he  had  entwined  a  soldier's  laurel 
around  a  martyr's  crown,  he  would  say  exultingly,  'Happy  am  I, 
that  by  my  death  I  have  done  more  for  that  country  which  I  loved 
and  served,  than  I  did  or  could  do  by  all  the  devotion  and  all  the 
efforts  that  I  could  make  in  her  behalf  during  the  short  span  of  my 
earthly  existence.' 

Mr.  Secretary,  great  as  this  calamity  is,  we  mourn,  but  not  as  those 
without  hope.  We  have  seen  one  eminent  man;  and  at  last  a  man  in 
the  most  eminent  station,  fall  away  from  the  midst  of  us.  But  I 
doubt  not  there  is  a  power  above  us  exercising  over  us  that  parental 
care  that  has  marked  our  progress  for  so  many  years.  I  have  con 
fidence  still  that  the  place  of  the  departed  will  be  supplied ;  that  the 
kind,  beneficent  favor  of  Alrnightv  God  will  still  be  with  us,  and  that 
we  shall  be  borne  along,  and  born  upward  and  upward,  on  the  wings 
of  His  sustaining  Providence.  May  God  grant  that  in  the  time  that  is 
before  us,  there  may  not  be  wanting  to  us  as  wise  men,  as  good  men 


440  FILLMORE'S  SECOND  MESSAGE. 

for  our  counsellors,  as  he  was  whose  funeral  obsequies  we  now  propose 
to  celebrate ! 

In  the  House,  resolutions  in  regard  to  the  funeral, 
corresponding  with  those  in  the  Senate,  were  adopted. 

After  the  oath  of  office  had  been  administered  to 
Mr.  Fillmore,  the  following  message  from  him  was  read, 
as  it  was  also  in  the  Senate  : — 

FELLOW-CITIZENS  OF  THE  SENATE 

AND  OF  THE  HoUSE  OF  REPRESENTATIVES  ; 

I  recommend  to  the  two  houses  of  Congress  to  adopt 
such  measures  as  in  their  discretion  may  seem  proper, 
to  perform  with  due  solemnities  the  funeral  obsequies 
of  ZACHARY  TAYLOR,  late  President  of  the  United 
States ;  and  thereby  to  signify  the  great  and  affection 
ate  regard  of  the  American  people  for  the  memory  of 
one  whose  life  has  been  devoted  to  the  public  service, 
whose  career  in  arms  has  not  been  surpassed  in  use 
fulness  or  brilliancy :  who  has  been  so  recently  raised 
by  the  unsolicited  voice  of  the  people  to  the  highest 
civil  authority  in  the  government,  which  he  adminis 
tered  with  so  much  honor  and  advantage  to  his  coun 
try  ;  and  by  whose  sudden  death  so  many  hopes  of 
future  usefulness  have  been  blighted  forever. 

To  you,  Senators  and  Representatives  of  a  nation 
in  tears,  I  can  say  nothing  which  can  alleviate  the  sor 
row  with  which  you  are  oppressed. 

I  appeal  to  you  to  aid  me,  under  the  trying  circum 
stances  which  surround  me,  in  the  discharge  of  the 
duties,  from  which,  however  much  I  may  be  oppressed 
by  them,  I  dare  not  shrink ;  and  I  rely  upon  Him,  who 
holds  in  his  hands  the  destinies  of  nations,  to  endow 
me  with  the  requisite  strength  for  the  task,  and  to 


ADDRESSES    IN    CONGRESS.  441 

avert  from  our  country  the  evils  apprehended  from  the 
heavy  calamity  which  has  befallen  us. 

I  shall  most  readily  concur  in  whatever  measures 
the  wisdom  of  the  two  Houses  may  suggest,  as  be 
fitting  this  deeply  melancholy  occasion. 

MILLARD    FILLMORE. 

WASHINGTON,  July  10,  1850. 

Eloquent  addresses  graphically  describing  General 
Taylor's  public  and  private  character,  and  his  many 
eminent  services  were  then  delivered  by  Mr.  Conrad, 
of  Louisiana,  Mr.  Winthrop,  of  Massachusetts,  Mr. 
Baker,  of  Illinois,  Mr.  Bagby,  of  Virginia,  Mr.  Hilliard, 
of  Alabama,  Mr.  John  A.  King,  of  New  York,  Mr. 
McLane,  of  Maryland,  and  Mr.  Marshall,  of  Kentucky. 
From  these  equally  heartfelt  and  touching  outpourings 
of  grief,  that  of  Mr.  Baker,  of  Illinois,  is  selected,  only 
because  a  choice  must  be  made  : — 

Mr.  BAKER  said: 

Mr.  SPEAKER  :  It  is  often  said  of  sorrow,  that,  like  death,  it  levels  all 
distinctions.  The  humblest  heart  can  heave  a  sigh  as  deep  as  the 
proudest ;  and  I  avail  myself  of  this  mournful  privilege  to  swell  the 
accents  of  grief  which  have  been  poured  forth  to-day  with  a  larger 
though  not  more  sincere  utterance.  A  second  time  since  the  forma 
tion  of  this  Government,  a  President  of  the  United  States  has  been 
stricken  by  death  in  the  performance  of  his  great  duties.  The  blow 
which  strikes  the  man  falls  upon  a  nation's  heart,  and  the  words  of  sad 
dened  praise  which  fall  upon  our  ears  to-day,  and  here,  are  but  echoes 
of  the  thoughts  that  throng  in  the  hearts  of  the  millions  that  mourn 
him  everywhere.  You  have  no  doubt  observed,  sir,  that  in  the  first 
moments  of  a  great  loss  the  instincts  of  affection  prompt  us  to  summon 
up  the  good  and  great  qualities  of  those  for  whom  we  weep.  It  is 
a  wise  ordination  of  Divine  Providence;  a  generous  pride  tempera 
and  restrains  the  bitterness  of  grief,  and  noble  deeds  and  heroic  virtues 
shed  a  consoling  light  upon  the  tomb.  It  is  in  this  spirit  that  I  recar 
for  an  instant,  and  for  an  instant  only,  to  the  events  of  a  history  fresh 
in  the  remembrance  of  the  nation  and  the  world. 

19* 


442  MR. 

The  late  President  of  the  United  States  has  devoted  his  whole  life 
to  the  service  of  his  country.  Of  a  nature  singularly  unambitious,  he 
seems  to  have  combined  the  utmost  gentleness  of  manner  with  the 
greatest  firmness  of  purpose.  For  more  than  thirty  years  the  duties 
of  his  station  confined  him  to  a  sphere  where  only  those  who  knew 
him  most  intimately  could  perceive  the  qualities  which  danger  quick 
ened  and  brightened  into  sublimity  and  grandeur.  In  the  late  war 
with  Gfreat  Britain  he  was  but  a  captain ;  yet  the  little  band  who  de 
fended  Fort  Harrison  saw  amid  the  smoke  of  battle  that  they  were 
commanded  by  a  man  fit  for  his  station.  In  the  Florida  campaign  he 
commanded  but  a  brigade  ;  yet  his  leadership  not  only  evinced  courage 
and  conduct,  but  inspired  these  qualities  in  the  meanest  soldier  in  his 
ranks.  He  began  the  Mexican  campaign  at  the  head  of  only  a  divi 
sion  ;  yet  as  the  events  of  the  war  swelled  that  division  into  an  army,  so 
the  crisis  kindled  him  into  higher  resolves  and  nobler  actions,  till  the 
successive  steps  of  advance  became  the  assured  march  of  victory. 

Mr.  Speaker,  as  we  review  the  brilliant  and  stirring  passages  of  the 
events  to  which  I  refer,  it  is  not  in  the  power  even  of  sudden  grief  to 
suppress  the  admiration  which  thrills  our  hearts.  When,  sir,  has  there 
been  such  a  campaign — when  such  soldiers  to  be  led — and  when  such 
qualities  of  leadership  so  variously  combined  ?  How  simple,  but  yet 
how  grand,  was  the  announcement,  "  in  whatever  force  the  enemy  may 
be,  I  shall  fight  him."  It  gave  Palo  Alto  and  Resaca  to  our  banner. 
How  steadfast  the  resolution  that  impelled  the  advance  to  Monterey ! 
How  stirring  the  courage  which  beleaguered  the  frowning  city — which 
stormed  the  barricaded  street — which  carried  the  embattled  heights, 
and  won  and  kept  the  whole !  Nor,  sir,  can  we  forget  that  in  the  flush 
of  victory,  the  gentle  heart  stayed  the  bold  hand,  while  the  conquering 
soldier  offered  sacrifices  on  the  altar  of  pity,  amid  all  the  exultations 
of  triumph. 

Sir,  I  may  not  stop  to  speak  of  the  achievements  of  Buena  Vista ; 
they  are  deeds  that  will  never  die — it  was  the  great  event  of  the  age, 
a  contest  of  races  and  institutions.  An  army  of  volunteers,  engaged 
not  in  an  impetuous  advance,  but  in  a  stern  defence  of  chosen  ground 
against  superior  force,  and  in  a  last  extremity, — men  who  had  never 
seen  fire  faced  the  foe  with  the  steadiness  of  veterans.  Sir,  as  long  as 
those  frowning  heights  and  bloody  ravines  shall  remain,  these  recollec 
tions  will  endure,  and  with  them  the  name  of  the  man  who  steadied 
every  rank,  and  kindled  every  eye,  by  the  indomitable  resolution  which 
would  not  yield,  and  the  exalted  spirit  which  rose  highest  amid  the 
greatest  perils.  It  was  from  scenes  like  these  he  was  called  to  the 
Chief  Magistracy.  It  was  a  summons  unexpected  and  unsought — the 


MR.  BAKER'S  SPEECH.  443 

spontaneous  expression  of  a  noble  confidence,  the  just  reward  of  great 
actions.  It  may  not  be  proper  to  speak  here  and  now  of  the  manner 
in  which  these  new  duties  were  executed ;  but  I  may  say  that  here,  as 
every  where  else,  he  exhibited  the  same  firmness  and  decision  which 
had  marked  his  life.  He  was  honest  and  unostentatious ;  he  obeyed 
the  law  and  loved  the  Constitution ;  he  dealt  with  difficult  questions 
with  a  singleness  of  purpose  which  is  the  truest  pilot  amid  storms. 
Nor  can  it  be  doubted  that  when  impartial  history  shall  record  the 
events  of  his  Administration,  they  will  be  found  worthy  of  his  past  life, 
apd  a  firm  foundation  for  his  future  renown. 

You  remember,  Mr.  Speaker,  that  when  the  great  Athenian  philoso 
pher  was  inquired  of  by  the  Lydian  king  as  to  who  was  the  happiest 
among  men,  he  declared  that  no  man  should  be  pronounced  happy 
till  his  death.  The  President  of  the  United  States  has  so  finished  a 
noble  life,  as  to  justify  the  pride  and  admiration  of  his  countrymen — 
he  has  faced  the  last  enemy  with  a  manly  firmness  and  a  becoming 
resolution.  He  died  where  an  American  citizen  would  most  desire  to 
die — not  amid  embattled  hosts  and  charging  squadrons,  but  amid 
weeping  friends  and  an  anxious  nation — in  the  house  provided  by  its 
gratitude,  only  to  be  taken  thence  to  a  "  house  not  made  with  hands, 
eternal  in  the  heavens." 

Sir,  in  the  death  which  has  caused  so  much  dismay  there  is  a  becom 
ing  resemblance  to  the  life  which  has  created  so  much  confidence. 
His  closing  hours  were  marked  with  a  beautiful  calmness ;  his  last  ex 
pressions  indicated  a  manly  sense  of  his  own  worth,  and  a  conscious 
ness  that  he  had  done  his  duty.  Nor  can  I  omit  to  remark,  that  it  is 
this  sense  of  the  obligation  of  duty  which  appears  to  have  been  the 
true  basis  of  his  character.  In  boyhood  and  in  age — as  captain  and  as 
general — whether  defending  a  fort  against  savages,  or  exercising  the 
functions  of  the  Chief  Magistracy,  duty,  rather  than  glory — self- 
approval,  rather  than  renown — have  prompted  the  deeds  which  have 
made  him  immortal. 

Mr.  Speaker,  the  character  upon  which  death  has  just  set  his  seal, 
is  filled  with  beautiful  and  impressive  contrasts ;  a  warrior,  he  loved 
peace ;  a  man  of  action,  he  sighed  for  retirement.  Amid  the  events 
which  crowned  him  with  fame,  he  counselled  a  withdrawal  of  our 
troops.  And,  whether  at  the  head  of  armies,  or  in  the  Chair  of  State, 
he  appeared  as  utterly  unconscious  of  his  great  renown  as  if  no 
banners  had  drooped  at  his  word,  or  as  if  no  gleam  of  glory  shone 
through  his  whitened  hair.  It  is  related  of  Epaminondas,  that  when 
fatally  wounded  at  the  battle  of  Mantinea,  they  bore  him  to  a  height 
from  whence,  with  fading  glance,  he  surveyed  the  fortunes  of  the 


444  PREPARATIONS    MADE 

fight,  and  when  the  field  was  won,  laid  himself  down  to  die;  the 
friends  who  gathered  around  him  wept  his  early  fall,  and  passionately 
expressed  their  sorrow  that  he  died  childless.  "Not  so,"  said  the  hero 
with  his  last  breath,  "  for  do  I  not  leave  two  fair  daughters,  Leuctra 
and  Mantinea?"  General  TAYLOR  is  more  fortunate,  since  he  leaves  an 
excellent  and  most  worthy  family  to  deplore  his  loss  and  inherit  his 
glory.  Nor  is  he  fortunate  in  this  only,  since,  like  Epaminondas,  l>e 
leaves  not  only  two  battles,  but  four — Palo  Alto,  Resaca,  Monterey, 
Buena  Vista — the  grand  creations  of  his  genius  and  valor,  to  be 
remembered  as  long  as  truth  and  courage  appeal  to  the  human 
heart. 

Mr.  Speaker,  the  occasion  and  the  scene  impress  upon  us  a  deep 
sense  of  the  instability  of  all  human  concerns,  so  beautifully  alluded  to 
by  my  friend  from  Massachusetts,  (Mr.  WINTHBOP.)  The  great 
southern  Senator  is  no  longer  among  us.  The  President,  during 
whose  administration  the  war  commenced,  sleeps  in  "  the  house  ap 
pointed  for  all  the  living ;"  and  the  great  soldier  who  led  the  advance 
and  assured  the  triumph,  "lies  like  a  warrior  taking  his  rest."  Ah! 
sir,  if  in  this  assemblage  there  is  a  man  whose  heart  beats  with  a 
tumultuous  and  unrestrained  ambition,  let  him  to-day  stand  by  the 
bier  upon  which  that  lifeless  body  is  laid,  and  learn  how  much  of 
human  greatness  fades  in  an  hour ;  but  if  there  be  another  man  here 
whose  fainting  heart  shrinks  from  a  noble  purpose,  let  him,  too,  visit 
these  sacred  remains,  to  be  reminded  how  much  there  is  in  true  glory 
that  can  never  die. 

The  joint  committee  of  Congress  which  had  been 
appointed  to  make  the  necessary  and  appropriate  ar 
rangements  for  the  funeral,  immediately  set  about  that 
melancholy  duty  with  becoming  zeal  and  energy,  and 
fixed  upon  Saturday,  the  13th  day  of  July,  for  the  sol 
emn  ceremony.  On  that  day,  accordingly,  the  mortal 
remains  of  the  illustrious  and  eminent  deceased  were 
consigned  to  the  tomb. 

The  deep-toned  artillery  gave  early  note  of  pre 
paration,  and  the  avenues  .were  soon  alive  with 
thronging  multitudes,  dressed  in  decent  apparel,  and 
evidently  impressed  with  the  seriousness  of  the  occa 
sion.  All  places  of  business  were  closed,  and  the  dra- 


FOR    THE    FUNERAL.  445 

pery  of  mourning  hung  in  graceful  festoons  upon  the 
walls  of  almost  every  house  throughout  the  long  route 
the  procession  was  to  traverse. 

Vast  numbers  from  abroad  had  already  arrived  in 
the  city,  and  every  hotel  and  house  of  entertainment 
was  full ;  yet  the  arrivals  on  this  morning  followed 
each  other  in  rapid  succession.  More  than  forty  pas 
senger-cars  arrived  from  Baltimore  during  the  fore 
noon,  bringing  military  companies  and  citizens.  Many 
came  in  the  steamboats  from  Alexandria,  Fredericks- 
burg,  and  Richmond,  and  from  the  adjacent  country 
every  description  of  vehicle  had  been  put  in  requi 
sition. 

The  morning  had  not  far  advanced  before  every 
advantageous  position  from  the  President's  house,  to  the 
Capitol  was  occupied — every  window,  every  elevated 
place  along  the  avenue,  and  every  favorable  position 
on  the  sidewalks  ;  and  yet  from  all  directions  the  mul 
titudes  pressed  onward  to  the  avenue  and  toward  the 
President's  house.  And  the  deep  voice  of  the  cannon 
boomed  heavily  at  intervals,  and  its  echoes  died  away 
with  an  undulating  murmur. 

The  military  now  approached  to  take  position  on 
the  avenue  in  front  of  the  President's  house.  The 
Flying  Artillery,  from  Fort  McHenry,  commanded  by 
Major  Sedgwick,  presented  a  most  magnificent  appear 
ance.  This  company,  with  four  others  of  the  regular 
service,  constituted  a  battalion  under  the  command  of 
Major  S.  The  others  were  as  follows,  viz.,  one  com 
pany  from  Fort  Mifflin,  of  artillery  serving  as  Infantry, 
commanded  by  Capt.  Bowen  ;  two  companies  from 
Governor's  Island,  New  York  ;  and  one  company  from 
Fort  Washington.  There  was  with  these  a  very  beau 
tiful  band  from  Governor's  Island. 


446  MILITARY    COMPANIES 

There  was  also  a  battalion  of  Marines,  commanded 
by  Captain  Tansil.  This  consisted  of  two  compa 
nies,  commanded  by  Lieutenant  Graham  and  Sergeant- 
Major  Pulizzi  respectively.  With  them  was  the  excel 
lent  band  attached  to  the  Marine  Barracks  led  by  Mr. 
Treioy.  The  martial  music  of  this  corps,  always  so 
much  admired,  was  led  by  McGrery. 

From  the  city  of  Alexandria  there  were  two  volun 
teer  companies  ;  the  Mechanical  Artillery,  Capt.  Duf- 
fie,  and  the  Mount  Vernon  Guards,  Captain  Fields. 
The  latter  was  accompanied  by  Little's  excellent  band. 

The  Georgetown  Grays,  Capt.  Goddard,  were  in  new 
and  very  handsome  uniform. 

The  Fredericksburg  Guards,  commanded  by  Capt. 
W.  S.  Barton,  were  also  accompanied  by  a  find  band. 

From  Richmond  there  was  a  large  and  fine  company 
of  Blues,  of  which  Capt.  Lawrence  is  commander  ;  but 
we  believe  it  was  at  this  time  under  the  command  of 
Lieutenant  Regnault.  There  was  also  a  small  compa 
ny  from  Richmond,  composed  of  officers  of  the  179th 
Regiment.  A  band  of  music  accompanied  the  former. 

From  Baltimore  there  were  the  following,  viz  :  The 
Independent  Grays,  Captain  Hall,  with  a  fine  band ; 
the  Independent  Blues,  Captain  Schutt ;  the  First  Bal 
timore  Sharpshooters,  Captain  Lilley  ;  the  Eagle  Artil 
lerists,  Captain  Phillips ;  the  Junior  Artillerists,  Cap 
tain  Marshall ;  the  Patapsco  Rifles,  Captain  Swairn, 
with  a  band  led  by  Mr.  Wagoner ;  the  Maryland  Ca 
dets,  Captain  Poor ;  the  Baltimore  Mounted  Carbineers, 
Captain  Owens ;  a  battalion  of  Germans,  consisting  of 
two  fine  companies  of  infantry,  and  a  large  and  excel 
lent  company  of  youths,  from  the  academy  at  St.  Timo 
thy's  Hall,  (near  Baltimore,)  commanded  by  Captain 
Brown. 


IN    THE    PROCESSION.  447 

There  was  also  a  portion  of  a  company  from  Phila 
delphia — the  National  Guards — commanded  by  Cap 
tain  Lyle. 

The  volunteers  of  Washington  consisted  of  the  Wash 
ington  Light  Infantry,  Captain  Tate  ;  the  National 
Greys,  Captain  Bacon  ;  and  the  Walker  Sharpshooters, 
Captain  Bryant,  Lieutenant  Birkhead,  commanding. 

Accompanying  the  Baltimore  volunteers  were  a 
number  of  aged  men  who  had  aided  in  the  defence  of 
that  city  in  1814.  They  are  known  by  the  honored 
name  of  the  "  Old  Defenders." 

The  number  of  vehicles  in  the  line  of  the  procession 
was  one  hundred  and  five.  The  line  was  one  mile  and 
a  half  in  length.  At  one  point  on  the  avenue  it  occu 
pied  forty-five  minutes  in  passing ;  at  another,  moving 
less  steadily,  it  occupied  an  hour. 

The  President's  house  was,  throughout  the  morning, 
guarded  by  Captain  Goddard  and  the  Auxiliary  Guard, 
wearing  badges  and  having  batons  in  their  hands. 

The  persons  entitled  to  admission  here  were  those 
designated  in  the  following  extract  from  the  printed  pro 
gramme,  viz.  : 

The  United  States'  Marshal  of  the  District  of  Colum 
bia  and  his  Aids. 

The  Mayors  of  Washington  and  Georgetown. 
The  Committee  of  Arrangements  of  the  two  Houses  of 

Congress. 
The  Chaplains  of  the  two  Houses  of  Congress,  and  the 

officiating  Clergyman  of  the  occasion. 
Attending  Physicians  to  the  late  President. 

PALL  BEARERS. 

Hon.  Henry  Clay,  Hon.  T.  H.  Benton, 

Hon.  Lewis  Cass,  Hon.  Daniel  Webster, 


448  THE    PROCESSION. 

Hon.  J.  M.  Berrien,  Hon.  Truman  Smith, 

Hon.  R.  C.  Winthrop,          Hon.  Linn  Boyd, 
Hon.  Jus.  McDowell,  Hon.  S.  F.  Vinton, 

Hon.  Hugh  White,  Hon.  Isaac  E.  Holmes, 

G.  W.  P.  Custis,  Esq.,         Hon.  R.  J.  Walker, 
Chief  Justice  Cranch,  Joseph  Gales,  Esq., 

Maj.  Gen.  Jesup,  Maj.  Gen.  Gibson, 

Com.  Ballard,  Brig.  Gen.  Henderson. 

Family  and  relatives  of  the  late  President. 
The  President  of  the  United  States  and  the  Heads  of 

Departments. 

The  Sergeant-at-Arms  of  the  Senate. 
The  Senate  of  the  United  States,  preceded  by  their 

President,  pro  tempore,  and  Secretary. 
The  Sergeant-at-Arms  of  the  House  of  Representa 
tives. 
The   House   of    Representatives,   preceded   by   their 

Speaker  and  Clerk. 

The  Chief  Justice  and  Associate  Justices  of  the  Supreme 
Court  of  the  United  States  and  its  officers. 

The  Diplomatic  Corps. 
Governors  of  States  and  Territories. 

Ex-members  of  Congress. 
Members  of  State  Legislatures. 
District  Judges  of  the  United  States. 
Judges  of  the  Circuit  and  Criminal  Courts  of  the  Dis 
trict  of  Columbia,  with  the  members  of  the 

bar  and  officers  of  the  courts. 

The  Judges  of  the  several  States. 

The  Comptrollers  of  the  Treasury,  Auditors,  Treasurer, 

Register,  Solicitor,  and  Commissioners  of  Land 

Office,  Pensions,  Indian  Affairs,  Patents, 

and  Public  Buildings. 


FUNERAL    SERVICES.  449 

At  a  little  after  12  o'clock  the  services  were  com 
menced  by  singing  the  following  anthem,  under  the  di 
rection  of  Professor  Berlin  : 

"  I  heard  a  voice  from  heaven,  saying  unto  me : 
Write,  from  henceforth  blessed  are  the  dead  who  die 
in  the  Lord  ;  even  so  saith  the  spirit,  for  they  rest  from 
their  labors.  Amen." 

The  funeral  service,  as  prescribed  by  the  book  of 
common  prayer,  was  then  read  by  the  Rev.  Dr.  Pyne, 
assisted  by  the  Rev.  Dr.  Butler. 

The  following  impressive  address  was  then  delivered 
by  the  Rev.  Dr.  Pyne,  Rector  of  St.  John's  Church, 
where  General  Taylor  attended  public  worship  :— 

In  other  lands,  where  there  prevails  a  class  of  political  and  social 
relations  essentially  different  from  our  own,  there  is  a  word  often  used 
which,  important  and  expressive  as  may  be  its  import  to  the  people  of 
those  lands,  seems  with  us,  under  ordinary  circumstances,  scarcely  to 
find  a  place  or  an  application;  I  mean  the  word  august.  It  may 
appear  strange,  speaking  as  an  American  to  Americans,  to  employ 
such  an  expression  as  an  august  person,  or  an  august  presence ;  and 
yet,  whatever  there  be  in  that  word  that  conveys  the  associations 
and  attributes  of  majesty,  of  all  that  can  impress  a  human  creature 
with  reverence  and  awe,  I  find  it  in  this  audience  and  this  presence ; 
for  I  speak  in  an  assemblage  which  is  but  the  type  and  symbol  of  a 
mournins:  nation — appropriate  symbol  of  its  dignity  and  power.  The 
Chief  Magistrate  of  this  republic,  the  members  of  its  legislative  coun 
cils,  the  honorable  heads  of  its  Executive  Departments,  the  honored 
chiefs  of  the  two  great  arms  of  the  public  service — this  is  a  presence 
which  to  me,  as  a  citizen  of  this  republic,  is  indeed  august. 

And  not  less  imposing  to  me  is  the  representation  of  the  dignity  of 
other  lands  in  peace  and  harmony  with  our  own ;  for  that  presence 
tells  me  not  only  that  they  are  here  among  us  great  agents  for  the 
interests  of  great  nations,  and  therefore  for  the  interests  of  the  civilized 
world,  but  I  believe  they  are  here  this  day,  in  this  place  of  the 
mourning  obsequies  of  the  honored  dead,  giving  a  tribute  of  not 
mere  official  reverence,  but  personal  regret ;  yes !  as  ministers  of 
this  world's  rulers,  to  whom  the  peace  of  the  world  is  all  im 
portant,  well  may  they  regret  him  who,  as  long  as  he  filled  his 


450  DR.  PYXE'S  ADDRESS. 

great  place,  was  a  guarantee  for  one  element  in  that  world-wide 
security — the  stern,  impartial  neutrality  of  these  United  States.  I  am 
sure  I  do  them  no  more  than  justice  in  believing  that  a  tenderer  feel 
ing  is  blended  witli  this:  the  warm  grasp  of  the  hand,  the  cordial 
address,  the  true,  honest  words  of  welcome,  and  the  homely  but  affec 
tionate  farewell,  are  present,  I  doubt  not,  at  this  moment  to  the 
memory  of  many  a  heart  that  beats  beneath  those  insignia  of  official 
station.  I  remember  well  the  impression  made  on  me  by  his  parting 
speech  to  the  minister  of  a  great  empire:  ''God  bless  you,  come  back 
to  us  again" — a  strange  farewell,  according  to  the  vocabulary  of 
diplomatic  etiquette — a  noble  and  characteristic  one  from  General 
TAYLOR  to  the  man  he  was  really  sorry  to  part  with,  and  whom  he 
honestly  wished  to  see  again.  I  feel,  then,  that  I  speak  in  the  pres 
ence  of  not  mere  official  representatives  of  courts  and  countries,  but  of 
men  whose  s^npathies  accompany  that  presence,  making  it  all  the 
more  impressive  to  me  as  it  is  honorable  to  them. 

There  is  another  presence  here,  to  me  the  most  august  of  all — the 
presence  of  that  relic  of  the  mighty  dead !  When  living,  he  never 
heard  from  my  lips  one  word  of  adulation,  and  now,  if  in  that  light 
and  life  of  truth  to  which  that  true  soul  has  been  taken,  he  is  conscious 
of  aught  that  passes  here,  he  sees  that  I  am  doing  for  him  when  dead, 
that  which  would  most  have  pleased  him  in  life.  I  will  speak  the 
truth,  utter  no  single  word  which  my  conscience  does  not  avouch, 
which  is  not  an  index  of  the  feelings  of  my  heart. 

And  oh !  may  I,  the  minister  of  God,  not  lose  for  one  moment  the 
conscious  sense  of  that  Presence — the  "  discerner  of  the  thoughts  and 
intents  of  the  heart !"  May  these  few  poor  words  of  mine  perform 
the  best  office  for  the  dead,  by  doing  good  to  the  living  who  in  their 
turn  must  die ! 

In  their  appropriate  time  and  place  words  have  been  spoken,  the 
record  of  this  great  man's  life,  the  tribute  to  his  multiplied  claims  upon 
the  country — words  worthy  of  those  who  uttered  them,  worthy  of  him 
whom  they  commemorated.  Had  this,  then,  been  the  fit  occasion,  or 
mine  the  proper  voice,  to  expatiate  on  such  themes,  I  could  only  have 
reiterated  what  has  been  far  better  and  more  effectively  said.  Of  his 
glorious  history,  then,  as  the  leader  of  armies — of  his  measures  as  the 
Chief  Magistrate  of  a  great  nation,  I  shall  say  nothing.  I  shall  advert 
to  one  point  alone,  a  subject  of  contemplation  as  useful  as  it  is  beautiful. 

I  have  been  struck  with  the  coincidence,  not  merely  in  feeling,  but 
in  the  very  expression  of  that  feeling,  whi«h  has  marked  the  reception, 
throughout  the  country,  of  the  late  heavy  tidings.  Simultaneously, 
from  our  halls  of  Congress,  in  every  form  of  official  announcement,  in 


DR.  PYNE'S  ADDRESS.  451 

every  private  letter  I  have  received  or  seen,  there  was  one  phrase,  as 
though  it  were  the  only  possible,  the  instinctive  expression  of  one 
universal  feeling :  "  the  great  man  /"  It  is  evidently  no  mere  form  of 
speech,  nor  is  it  employed  in  that  conventional  acceptation  by  which 
any  man  who  had  died  iu  that  great  office  might  be  called  great.  No, 
it  is  plain  that  in  that  individual  man  there  were  elements  of  character 
which  have  impressed  upon  the  common  sense  and  judgment  of  this 
country  the  indelible  conviction  that  lie  was  a  great  man.  It  is  worth 
while  for  us  to  pause  a  moment  to  consider  what  those  qualities  were, 
which  elicited  an  acknowledgment  so  unusually,  so  universally  accor 
dant,  It  was  not  his  military  .prowess  or  success.  "  Vixere  fortes 
ante  Agamernnona."  The  civic  and  the  mural  crowns  adorn  too  many 
brows  to  have  made  this  man,  as  by  emphasis,  great.  That  wonder 
ful  campaign  was  indeed  the  lever  which  raised  him  up  to  show  the 
world,  not  what  it  had  made  him,  but  what  he  was  in  himself,  the  man 
— the  man  to  do  the  right  thing  at  the  right  time ;  the  man  who  would 
not  leave  his  wounded  behind  him,  and  would  have  encountered  any 
personal  hazard  or  sacrifice  to  abide  by  that  which  his  heart  told  him 
was  right ;  the  man  quiet  in  expression,  strong  in  action,  firm  in 
purpose ;  and  whether  in  expression,  action,  or  purpose,  that  transpa 
rent  honesty  and  simple  integrity  forming,  as  it  were,  the  atmosphere 
in  which  he  lived  and  moved — which  so  happily  for  himself  and  for  us 
not  only  enabled  him  to  see  clearly  and  do  resolutely  what  became  a 
a  true  and  brave  man,  but  enabled  the  world  to  see  how  bravely  and 
how  honestly  it  was  done.  A  rare  gift !  Let  us  honor  it ;  and,  above 
all,  let  us  try  to  learn  a  lesson  from  it. 

The  secret  of  this  illustrious  man's  strength  and  greatness  lay  in  his 
being  honest,  true,  right-minded.  He  might  have  possessed  the  same 
clearness  of  judgment  in  discerning  any  practicable  or  desirable  end, 
the  same  determination  of  purpose  in  adhering  to  his  maturely  adopted 
plan  for  working  it  out.  Would  these  things  alone  have  made  him 
what  this  nation  has  so  universally  called  him  ?  A  man  may  see  very 
clearly  a  bad  end,  work  with  astonishing  vigor  and  perseverance  to 
accomplish  it  Can  such  a  man  be  really  great — can  he  be  really 
strong?  It  is  true  that,  without  these  more  active  qualities,  mere 
rectitude  of  intention  and  goodness  of  heart  might  constitute  a  good 
but  not  a  great  man.  And  yet  even  in  those  elements  of  goodness  lie 
the  essential  elements  of  greatness.  The  working  powers  of  energy 
and  will,  of  what  avail  are  they  if  they  have  not  the  true  material  to 
work  withal? — reliability!  If  a  man  have  not  that,  who  will  trust 
him  ?  Though  he  had  the  energy  and  intelligence  of  the  arch  fiend 
himself,  who  will  let  him  work  with  them  or  for  them  ?  And  where 


event. 


452  DR.  PYNE'S  ADDRESS. 

is  that  reliability  to  be  sought?  In  the  fickle  changes  of  a  man's  self- 
interest,  in  the  declared  submission  to  popular  will,  so  that  a  man  is 
perpetually  looking  without  and  never  within  for  his  rule  of 
right  ?  No !  To  give  real  body  and  strength  to  human  character, 
there  must  be  the  strong  mind,  indeed,  but  it  must  be  the  strong  mind 
acting  rcsponsively  to  the  teachings  of  the  right  mind.  "  If  the  eye  be 
single,  then  shall  the  whole  body  be  full  of  light."  Goodness  and 
power — that  is  greatness.  The  people  of  this  land  saw  it  there,  and 
therefore  have  they  called  him  great.  It  is  an  honor  to  them  to  have 
Bern  him  as  they  did,  and  to  have  placed  him  where  they  did. 

There  is,  then,  a  great  lesson  to  be  learned  here  this  day.  I  will 
not  suffer  myself  to  suppose  that  there  is  a  public  man  who  hears  me, 
who  does  not  covet  that  which  is  high  in  honor,  bright  in  fame,  and 
which  will  last  in  the  memory  of  man.  We  have  had  a  great  living 
example  of  what  there  must  be  in  a  man  to  win  from  the  world  these 
noble  appliances  of  honor  and  fame.  Being  dead,  he  yet  speaketh 
a  lesson,  which  will  be  read  and  treasured  by  the  generation  who  shall 
follow  us. 

Permit  me,  now,  to  pass  to  the  yet  higher  teachings  of  this  great 


There  is  a  series  of  commonplaces  respecting  death,  judgment, 
eternity,  which,  awful  and  true  as  they  are  admitted  to  be,  still 
whether  it  be  from  the  familiarity  of  our  minds  with  them  in  conse 
quence  of  frequent  repetition,  or  that  the  overwhelming  interests  of 
the  solid,  tangible  present,  veil  the  equally  certain,  but,  as  we  think, 
far-removed  realities  of  the  future ;  from  some  cause  or  other,  I  repeat, 
these  admitted,  awful  truths  fail  to  exercise  any  influence  on  human 
conduct  or  character  at  all  commensurate  with  their  importance.  The 
great  reason  of  this  is  probably  the  practical  ignorance  or  the  for- 
get fulness  of  the  great  fact  that,  in  the  revelation  of  Christianity,  judg 
ment  is  not  a  thing  which  is  to  come,  but  is  now ;  that  we  are  actually 
in  the  kingdom  of  the  Great  Judge,  the  God  man,  who  is  near  to  us, 
and  we  to  him, — near,  with  his  supplies  of  grace  to  help  in  time  of 
ncecl — near,  knowing  from  His  human  experience  what  man  can  do  as 
well  as  what  he  ought  to  do,  knowing  from  His  divine  omniscience 
every  thought  and  intent  of  the  heart.  It  is  not,  then,  a  remote  judge 
and  a  remote  judgment  with  which  we  have  to  do,  but  one  at  the  door. 
The  judgment  of  the  great  day  is,  in  fact,  only  the  sentence  educed  by 
the  sum  of  those  judgments  which  have  gone  up  day  by  day  from  the 
thoughts,  and  words,  and  works.  Alas !  even  in  Christian  people  who 
are  not  insensible  to  the  fact  of  their  religion,  who  feel  its  restraining 
and  grading  influence  is  great  in  many  of  the  circumstances  of  life, 


DR.  PYNE'S  ADDRESS.  453 

there  is  great  hazard  of  their  losing  the  practical  conviction  that  there 
is  only  one  judge  in  the  world  with  whom  they  have  anything  really 
to  do — that  they  should  suffer  questions  of  expediency  or  policy,  or 
the  opinions  of  men,  to  take  the  place  of  this  simple  accountability  of 
the  Christian  conscience  to  the  Christian  Judge ;  so  that  any  course  of 
action  for  which  we  can  adduce  such  plausible  reasons  as  will  satisfy 
the  world,  we  take  for  granted  as  fit  to  stand  before  the  bar  of  con 
science.  "  If  our  heart  condemn  us  not,  then  have  we  confidence 
towards  God,"  saith  an  apostle.  But  when,  by  any  process  of  reason 
ing,  we  have  so  justified  our  conduct,  that,  before  the  tribunal  of 
man's  judgment,  we  pass  free,  we  may  infer,  as  a  necessary  con 
sequence,  that  our  hearts  should  not  condemn  us ;  from  this  the  step  is 
easy  to  the  conclusion  that  it  does  not.  Seeing,  then,  how  easily  and 
insensibly  we  may  fall  into  practical  forgetfulness  of  the  great  judg 
ment  which  standeth  ever  at  the  door,  whose  final  award  we  shall  all 
assuredly  meet,  it  is  the  business  of  reasonable  men,  it  is  the  solemn 
duty  of  responsible  Christian  men,  whenever  in  God's  providence,  any 
event  occurs  which  teaches  a  great  lesson  on  this  very  point,  to  study 
it  devoutly,  reverently.  It  is  the  great  purpose  of  God,  in  troubling 
the  still  waters  of  common  life,  that  we  should  note  the  descent  of  the 
angel  and  gather  health  from  the  perturbed  element.  Such  a  visita 
tion  has  now  been  made.  It  weakens  the  effect  of  such  an  event  to 
multiply  words  respecting  it.  It  is  a  world-speaking  sermon — to  the 
world  more  immediately  around  us,  among  whom  this  illustrious 
person  so  lately  and  so  conspicuously  moved — speaking  with  especial 
emphasis.  May  God  teach  our  hearts  all  its  lessons.  I  shall  not  pre 
tend  to  present  them  all.  but  will  endeavor,  by  His  grace,  to  awake 
your  attention  and  my  own  to  that  lesson  at  least  which  comes  home 
to  the  great  business  and  wants  of  our  daily  life,  and  may  make  us 
wise  unto  salvation. 

I  would  remark,  then,  that  in  the  sudden  removal  of  this  dis 
tinguished  person  from  the  cares,  activities,  and  responsibilities  of  life, 
taking  him  (to  use  a  common  phrase)  to  his  account,  God  was  only 
doing  in  a  way  which  men  in  a  sense  see,  and  therefore  more  fully 
realize,  what  He  was  just  as  really  doing  at  everv  moment  of  his  pre 
vious  existence.  Before,  he  came  to  that  great  office,  at  every  instant 
of  that  momentous  period  of  his  life,  up  to  the  very  time  when  the 
Great  Judge  gave  visible  note  of  what  He  had  never  ceased  to  do — 
it  is  not  one  whit  more  true  that  he  has  now  gone  to  his  account,  that 
his  Great  Judge  will  one  day  pronounce  his  final  award,  than  that 
every  day  he  lived  he  was  going  to  it — the  Judge  just  as  near  to  him, 
the  account  going  on,  the  award  made. 


31 


454  DR.    PYNE  S    ADDRESS. 

This  is  true  of  every  human  creature,  but  its  great  and  startling 
truth  is  unquestionably  brought  more  home  to  us  when  we  have  before 
us  some  noted  instance  like  the  present. 

Let  us  suppose  that  on  that  memorable  fifth  of  March,  sixteen 
months  ago,  a  message  from  God  had  revealed  to  the  departed  Presi 
dent,  that  which  we  now  know ! — that  he  had  said  to  hirn,  "  I  have 
brought  you  to  this  great  office ;  in  the  full  career  of  its  duties  you 
shall  die."  It  is  not  for  any  human  creature  to  say  whether  it  would 
have  changed  or  modified  any  of  the  acts  of  his  Presidential  career ; 
perhaps  I  cannot  express  in  stronger  terms  my  individual  estimation 
of  the  man  than  to  declare  my  strong  personal  impression  that  it 
would  not.  I  do  in  my  heart  believe  that  every  act  of  his  official  life 
was  done  under  the  sense  of  personal  and  official  responsibility.  But, 
unquestionably,  such  a  revelation  would  have  given  awful  solemnity 
to  every  decision — it  would  have  suffered  no  veil  to  interpose  to  con 
ceal  motive,  no  conflict  or  combination  of  interests  to  modify  the  one 
great  motive  and  purpose,  to  repress  the  abiding  conviction,  "  I  am 
making  up  my  own  judgment — the  judgment  of  man  is  nothing  to  me 
except  as  it  responds  to  the  judgment  of  my  conscience  and  my  God. 
I  must  do  my  work — the  messenger  stands  at  the  door  and  knocks — 
the  grave  is  waiting — it  is  my  work — the  instruments  I  use  to  do  it, 
must  not  be  those  which  others  like  the  best,  but  such  as  I  believe  will 
do  the  work  the  best." 

Now,  I  am  not  preaching  to  official  people  simply — be  the  office 
high  or  low ;  I  am  preaching,  and  this  great  event  is  preaching  to  all. 
We  are  all  in  office  ! — an  office  before  which  the  government  of  the 
world  itself  sinks  into  insignificance;  the  dignity  of  which  was  fully 
realized  by  Him  who,  when  the  world  and  its  glories  were  proffered 
to  Him,  saw  their  comparative  nothingness — the  great  realm  of  con 
science,  the  kingdom  of  God  within  us.  To  the  administration  of  this 
government  all  the  powers  of  nature  and  of  grace  are  made  subordi 
nate  ;  we  may  use  them  or  abuse  them  ;  for  that  use  or  abuse  we  know 
that  we  shall  be  held  accountable.  But  we  know  it  and  admit  it  in  a 
general  way  ;  and  we  know  that  were  such  a  revelation  made  to  us  as 
that  I  have  intimated,  the  whole  character  and  tenor  of  life  would  be 
affected  by  it.  If  you  and  I  knew  beyond  the  possibility  of  doubt  that 
on  the  ninth  of  next  July  we  should  die,  I  say  to  you  unhesitatingly 
that  we  would  not  live  the  coming  year  as  we  have  lived  the  last. 
The  world  would  assume  a  different  character  and  relation  to  us  ;  the 
opinions  and  associations  of  men  would  possess  a  widely  different  in 
fluence.  Things  which  we  think  of  very  little  importance  because 
the  rest  of  the  world  think  them  so,  would  be  weighed  in  a  very  dif- 


DR.  PYNE'S  ADDRESS.  455 

ferent  balance — things  that  occupy  a  large  portion  of  our  attention 
and  affection,  because  other  men  value  or  love  them,  -would  sink  im 
measurably  in  the  scale.  Oh  !  it  is  in  the  light  of  such  a  revelation 
that  we  should  learn  the  full  force  of  that  apostolic  injunction  :  "  Love 
not  the  world,  nor  the  things  that  are  in  the  world/'  for  we  should 
find,  amid  all  our  imagined  love  of  God,  and  of  His  truth,  what  deep- 
seated  care,  and  love,  and  worship  of  the  world  there  is  in  the  best  of 
us ;  ay,  and  even  in  the  best  moods  and  movements  of  the  best  of  us. 
Well,  such  a  revelation  has  been  made — not  of  the  hour  of  death,  but 
the  hour  of  judgment — not  of  years  in  perspective,  but  in  the  awful 
present.  The  eternal  now  is  judging  us  now.  The  hour  of  death,  in 
deed,  is  not  revealed  ;  but  come  when  it  will,  it  comes  not  as  the  hour 
of  judgment,  but  the  hour  which  tells  us  that  all  jiulgment  is  at  an  end 
— the  balance  struck,  the  account  made  up,  the  recording  angel's  func 
tion  ended.  No  more  make- weights  of  faith,  nnd  prayer,  and  repent 
ance,  and  sanctity !  The  blood  of  the  covenant  has  sealed  the  soul  for 
its  final  passage  in  the  great  audit ! — that  blood  which  tells,  that  it  has 
paid  the  debt,  or  doubled  it.  And  a>  for  that  hour  of  death,  we  are 
not,  indeed,  told  that  it  shall  come  in  one,  or  ten,  or  fifty  years,  but  we 
are  told  that  it  shall  come.  Told  !  There  is  not  a  day  we  live  that 
we  are  not  told  it  by  that  which  moves  men's  minds  more  than  God's 
own  revelation.  We  see  infancy  and  age,  wisdom  and  folly,  poverty 
and  riches,  lie  down  in  that  common  bed.  "  But  when  ?  If  we  knew 
when!  It  would  make  us  thoughtful,  serious;  the  great  business  of 
life  would  be  to  make  ready." 

Do  you  think  so  ?  I  believe  that  it  would  make  you  mad — I  believe 
that  reason  would  reel  before  the  dreadful  assurance,  or  that  men's 
hearts  would  run  into  desperate  recklessness.  God,  in  his  mercy,  has 
concealed  the  ichen.  He  has  not  said  "  this  night  thy  soul  shall  be 
required  of  thee."  But  he  has  said,  this  hour  it  may,  some  hour  it  will. 
In  the  construction  of  human  language,  the  potential  and  the  impera 
tive  are  separate  things.  In  the  divine  vocabulary  this  distinction 
exists  not.  Whatever  he  has  said  may  be,  is  not  only  within  his  po 
tentiality,  but  at  every  moment  is  at  his  fiat,  when  what  may  be,  is. 
It  is  the  business  of  the  children  of  God  to  view  all  those  things  which 
God,  in  reference  to  our  condition,  has  pronounced  contingencies,  as 
realities.  This  contingency  above  all.  And  yet,  upon  this  simple 
difference  of  the  may  and  the  shall — creatures  of  intelligence  and  ob 
servation,  as  we  boast  ourselves — how  absolutely  does  the  whole  tenor 
of  our  lives  and  actions  often  turn ;  we  act  as  though  the  only  revela 
tion  made  to  us  were  that  of  the  Psalmist :  "  A  thousand  shall  fall  be- 


456 

side  thee,  and  ten  thousand  at  thy  right  hand,  but  it  shall  not  come 
nigh  thee." 

Oh  !  may  God's  message  now  awake  us  from  this  delusion ;  making 
us  feel  that,  as  in  the  startling  case  before  us,  revelation  itself  could 
not  make  the  event  more  certain.  So  there  is  a  revelation  always 
speaking  to  us  its  message,  but  now  echoed  by  heaven's  own  angel 
sounded  abroad  on  the  wide  surface  of  our  land ;  "  Behold  I  stand  at 
the  door  and  knock.  Thy  soul  shall  be  required  of  thee."  I  have 
now  performed  this  function  allotted  me  with  such  ability  as  God  has 
given  me.  I  trust  that  the  humble  but  very  sincere  tribute  to  one  who 
held  so  high  a  place  among  us,  is  not  unsuited  to  the  time  or  place.  It 
is  indeed  a  high  office ;  and  for  our  own  sake  we  should  honor  all  who 
hold  it — honor  them  living,  honor  them  dead.  We  should  show  that 
those  whom  a  great  people  place  in  such  a  station  of  eminence  are,  by 
that  single  act,  taken  out  of  tlje  category  of  common  men.  While  they 
live  we  should  respect  them,  and  when  they  go  the  way  of  all  flesh,  I 
would  still  have  them  honored  in  such  a  way  as  will  do  good  to  the 
living.  There  is  a  monument  even  now  in  progress  to  the  memory  of 
the  first  President  of  this  country,  but  how  utterly  inadequate  must 
that  or  any  other  monument  be,  as  an  expression  of  the  veneration  of 
this  country  or  of  the  world  itself.  1  can  imagine  a  monument  more 
worthv  of  the  country  and  of  him ;  one  that  would  preach  a  great  les 
son  to  generations  yet  to  come.  Let  the  spot  where  the  great  Father 
of  his  Country  reposes  become  national  soil.  Let  there  arise  on  the 
bank  of  his  own  river,  beneath  the  shade  of  his  own  trees,  a  great 
mausoleum — there,  around  his  mortal  remains,  let  the  bodies  of  all  be 
gathered  who  have  ever  been  chosen  or  shall  ever  be  chosen  by  the 
American  people  to  bear  that  office  which  Washington  dignified  and 
adorned.  I  believe  that  such  a  monument  might  do  much  to  secure 
the  best  succession  in  the  world,  the  succession  of  virtues  and  patriot 
ism  like  his  own.  I  am  very  sure  that  it  would  be  visited  like  a 
shrine ;  that  many  a  heart  Avould  beat  with  nobler  pulses  when  look 
ing  on  that  assemblage  of  the  mighty  dead.  And,  if  the  day  must 
come  when  the  fate  of  the  great  nations  that  have  gone  shall  be  ours ; 
when  strangers  of  some  newer  race  and  name  shall  come  hither  to  visit 
the  relics  of  a  people  once  mighty  and  free — the  very  memory  of  other 
places,  other  names  may  have  vanished,  but  that  will  remain ;  and  the 
world  will  never  cease  to  bear  record  that  that  must  indeed  have  been 
a  great  nation  which  had  such  honorable  sons,  and  so  honored  them. 

In  concluding  his  address,  it  will  be  seen  that  Dr. 
Pyne  presented  an  important  suggestion  to  the  minds 


THE    FUNERAL    CAR.  457 

of  his  hearers,  one  that  will  be  welcomed  by  the  Ameri 
can  people.  It  is  that  the  home  of  Washington  be  pur 
chased  by  the  nation,  and  adorned  as  the  Mausoleum 
of  the  departed  Presidents.  How  appropriately  chosen ! 
What  depository  so  fitting  for  the  remains  of  the  hon 
ored  and  illustrious  of  our  land,  as  the  home  in  which 
Washington  lived — as  the  earth  where  his  body  reposes. 
The  following  dirge  (by  B.  F.  Niles,  Esq.)  was  then 
sung  by  Professor  Berlin  and  three  of  the  Eberbach 
family,  Professor  B.  accompanying  on  the  seraphina: — 

His  triumphs  are  over — he's  gone  to  his  rest, 

To  the  throne  of  his  Maker,  the  home  of  the  blest, 

How  peaceful  and  calm  he  now  rests  on  the  bier, 

Each  heart  droops  in  sadness,  and  each  eye  sheds  a  tear. 

The  Hero,  the  Statesman — his  journey  is  done  ; 

All  his  cares  now  are  over,  his  last  battle  won. 

Now  sweetly  he  rests  from  his  sorrows  and  fears, 

And  left  a  proud  nation  in  sadness  and  tears. 

Oh !  bear  him  full  gently — disturb  not  his  rest, 

And  let  the  turf  lightly,  be  heap'd  on  his  breast; 

For  oh !  he  was  noble,  and  gentle,  and  kind — 

And  was  deep  in  the  hearts  of  the  people  enshrined. 

Let  the  flag  which  he  loved  envelope  his  form, 

"Which  often  streamed  o'er  him  in  the  battle's  fierce  storm. 

Oh  !  calm  let  him  rest  with  his  deeds  and  his  fame, 

And  halos  of  glory  encircle  his  name. 

It  was  near  two  o'clock  when  the  procession  com 
menced  to  move.  The  rich  yet  simple  coffin  was  borne 
through  the  great  hall  door,  before  which  stood  the 
funeral  car.  This  was  a  very  imposing  vehicle.  The 
wheels  were  black  and  massive,  in  imitation  of  those 
of  the  ancient  Roman  chariots.  The  main  body  of  the 
car  expanded  over  these  to  the  length  of  eleven  and  a 
half  feet,  and  width  of  six  and  a  half.  Upon  this,  the 

20 


458  "  OLD    WHITEY." 

place  on  which  the  coffin  was  to  rest  was  raised  in  the 
centre.  A  canopy,  in  form  of  an  arch,  extended  from 
front  to  rear.  All  this  was  enveloped  in  fine  black 
cloth,  entwined  with  white  satin,  having  large  silver 
spangles  in  each  rosette.  The  canopy  was  surmounted 
by  a  large  golden  eagle,  covered  with  crape.  At  the 
four  corners  of  the  car  were  golden  urns,  also  shrouded 
with  crape.  The  coffin  was  covered  with  black  silk 
velvet.  Eight  gray  horses  were  attached  to  the  car, 
each  of  them  led  by  a  youth,  habited  in  a  white  frock 
with  crape  around  the  waist,  and  a  white  turban  upon 
the  head. 

During  the  progress  of  the  procession  to  the  grave, 
a  distance  of  about  three  miles,  the  bells  of  the  city 
were  tolled,  and  in  the  various  public  squares  cannon 
were  discharged.  At  the  point  of  starting  the  crowds 
were  immense.  The  grounds  adjacent  to  the  Presi 
dent's  house,  and  the  porticoes  of  the  Departments, 
were  literally  alive.  General  Scott,  the  commander- 
in-chief  of  the  military,  presented  a  noble  appearance 
on  this  occasion. 

Behind  the  funeral  car  "  Old  Whitey"  was  led  by 
Mr.  Swartzman,  a  well-tried  friend  of  the  late  Presi 
dent,  who  had  served  with  him  in  the  Indian  wars. 
The  service  the  old  war-horse  had  rendered,  and  the 
association  of  his  name  with  many  of  the  great  battles 
of  Mexico,  have  rendered  him  an  object  of  interest ; 
but  at  this  time  it  seemed  only  necessary  to  know  that 
he  was  the  object  of  the  late  President's  kind  regard, 
in  order  to  rivet  the  interest  of  every  one  upon  him. 

It  is  a  subject  worthy  of  remark  in  this  place,  that 
although  the  multitude  was  vast,  and  the  scenes  pre 
sented  of  great  novelty,  the  most  perfect  order  pre 
vailed  throughout  the  whole  city;  and  as  the  funeral 


LINES    ON    HIS    DEATH.  459 

car  passed  by,  the  heads  of  the  people  were,  as  it  would 
appear,  instinctively  uncovered. 

Arriving  at  the  burial-ground,  the  remains  were  in 
terred  with  no  other  ceremonies  than  the  simple  and 
impressive  words  pronounced  by  the  minister,  ending 
with  the  benediction,  except  that  the  soldier's  farewell 
was  poured  forth  in  triple  volleys  by  a  portion  of  the 
infantry  and  light  artillery. 

It  was  late  in  the  afternoon  when  the  multitude  re 
turned  to  the  city,  and  in  a  few  hours  more  there  was 
every  where  stillness  and  quiet,  and  the  people  in  the 
capital  of  a  republic  owned  a  powerful  control,  and  a 
motive  for  order  and  decorum,  stronger  than  regal 
thrones  and  glittering  bayonets  could  ever  exercise 
and  inspire. 

Thus  ended  this  day  of  sorrow  and  gloom,  and  thus 
terminated  the  last  earthly  honors  paid  to  one  of  the 
greatest  names  that  ever  adorned  our  country's  history, 
and  one  of  the  bravest  hearts  and  truest  men  that  ever 
honored  and  ennobled  human  nature.  Most  happily 
and  aptly  may  the  following  beautiful  lines  of  Willis 
be  applied  to  the  lamented  soldier,  and  most  heartily 
will  it  be  responded  to  by  every  American  : 

Lay  his  sword  on  his  breast !     There's  no  spot  on  its  blade, 

In  whose  cankering  breath  his  bright  laurels  will  fade ! 

'Twas  the  first  to  lead  on  at  humanity's  call — 

It  was  stayed  with  sweet  mercy  when  "  glory  "  was  all ! 

As  calm  in  the  council  as  gallant  in  war 

He  fought  for  his  country,  and  not  its  "  hurrah !" 

In  the  path  of  the  hero  with  pity  he  trod — 

Let  him  pass — with  his  sword — to  the  presence  of  God ! 

Follow  now,  as  ye  list !     The  mourner  to-day 

Is  the  nation — whose  father  is  taken  away ! 

Wife,  children,  and  neighbor  may  mourn  at  his  knell — 

He  was  "  lover  and  friend  "  to  his  country  as  well ! 

For  the  stars  on  our  banner,  grow  suddenly  dim, 


460  UNIVERSAL    ATTACHMENT. 

Let  us  weep,  in  our  darkness — but  weep  not  for  him ! 
Not  for  him — who,  departing,  leaves  millions  in  tears  t 
Not  for  him — who  has  died  full  of  honor  and  years ! 
Not  for  him — who  ascended  Fame's  ladder  so  high 
From  the  round  at  the  top  he  has  stepped  to  the  sky ! 
It  is  blessed  to  go  when  so  ready  to  die. 

Never  since  the  death  of  WASHINGTON,  has  any 
public  man  been  called  from  the  theatre  of  his  useful 
ness,  who  was  so  universally  and  so  sincerely  mourned 
as  General  Taylor ;  nor  whose  death  was  so  generally 
looked  upon  as  a  national  disaster.  There  was  an 
affectionate  attachment  felt  for  him  which  no  other 
man  except  the  Father  of  his  country  had  ever  in 
spired  to  so  great  a  degree.  Every  American  enter 
tained  towards  him  the  warmest  regard,  and  looked 
upon  him  as  upon  a  dear  and  intimate  friend.  Even 
the  thousands  who  had  never  seen  him  felt  this  affec 
tionate  regard  for  his  character.  His  reputation  was 
looked  upon  as  the  conlmon  property  of  every  Ameri 
can,  and  they  felt  an  equal  pride  in  the  honor  his 
glorious  public  career  and  his  pre-eminent  public  and 
private  virtues  had  reflected  upon  the  country.  Long 
will  his  memory  be  remembered  and  venerated  by  his 
countrymen,  and  long  will  his  deeds  continue  to  fill 
one  of  the  brightest  pages  of  his  country's  history. 
Longer  still  may  his  noble  deeds  and  his  numerous 
virtues  serve  to  stimulate  and  encourage  to  like  deeds 
and  like  virtues  those  in  whose  hands  the  destinies  of 
the  nation  may  be  placed  ! 

The  following  letter  written  by  General  .Taylor 
after  the  commencement  of  the  attack  which  termi 
nated  his  earthly  career, — first  published  since  his* 
death,  is  probably  the  last  one  he  ever  wrote.  As 
such,  it  will  possess  a  melancholy  interest.  Its  object 
will  be  gathered  from  its  contents : 


HIS    LAST    LETTER.  461 

WASHINGTON-,  July  5,  1850. 
E.  P.  Prentice,  Esq.,  Albany,  N.  Y. 

SIR  : — I  have  duly  received  your  favors  of  May  18, 
and  June  25,  the  former  wishing  me  to  attend  the 
Annual  Fair  of  the  N.  Y.  State  Agricultural  Society 
in  September  next,  the  latter  kindly  asking  my  com 
pany  at  your  house  on  that  occasion. 

In  the  extreme  uncertainty  attending  the  adjourn 
ment  of  Congress,  until  which  event  I  cannot  leave 
the  seat  of  Government,  I  find  it  quite  impossible  to 
give  any  assurance  in  regard  to  my  presence  at  the 
State  Fair.  I  was  greatly  disappointed  when  circum 
stances  prevented  my  attendance  at  the  Fair  of  last 
year,  and  it  is  my  hope  this  season  to  have  the  gratifi 
cation  of  witnessing  a  similar  exhibition.  Unless  pre 
vented  by  an  extraordinary  prolongation  of  the  session 
of  Congress,  or  by  other  circumstances  not  now  fore 
seen,  I  shall  certainly  comply  with  the  invitation  which 
you  have  extended  to  me  as  President  of  the  Agricul 
tural  Society. 

I  fear,  however,  that  I  shall  be  obliged  to  decline 
your  very  kind  request  that  I  should  make  your  house 
my  home  during  my  attendance  at  the  Fair.  It  will 
hardly  be  in  my  power  to  accept  any  private  invita 
tions,  but  should  I  do  so,  that  of  Gov.  Fish,  which  I 
some  time  since  received,  wrould  have  the  strongest 
claim  upon  my  attention. 

With  many  thanks  for  your  hospitable  offer,  I  re 
main,  very  truly,  yours, 

Z.  TAYLOR. 

To  attempt  a  description  of  General  Taylor's  char 
acter  after  the  elegant  portrait  of  it  drawn  by  WEB- 


462  HIS    CHARACTER. 

STER,  and  BAKER,  and  PYNE,  to  be  found  in  the 
previous  pages,  and  after  the  many  illustrations  of  it 
found  in  every  act  of  his  life,  as  it  has  been  attempted  to 
be  drawn  in  this  volume,  cannot  be  deemed  necessary. 
Nor  could  anything  more  that  might  now  be  added, 
convey  any  clearer  impression  of  its  remarkable  points 
to  the  reader  than  is  to  be  found  in  the  tributes  of  the 
men  named  above.  It  cannot  fail  to  be  seen  from 
them  that  the  leading  features  of  his  striking,  and,  it 
might  almost  be  said,  his  sublime  character,  are  its 
beautiful  simplicity,  its  unyielding  integrity,  its  remark 
able  firmness,  and  its  open,  manly  frankness.  He 
"carried  his  heart  in  his  hand"  before  his  friends,  and 
indeed,  before  the  whole  world,  and  every  one  who 
would,  could  not  fail  to  see  the  whole  man.  He  had 
an  unalterable  abhorrence  for  everything  that  bore 
the  slightest  resemblance  to  trickery  or  management, 
and  would  not  look  with  patience  upon  any  deviation 
from  the  straight  line  of  rectitude  which  he  himself  had 
ever  pursued.  To  such  as  inspired  his  confidence  by 
the  exhibition  of  those  traits  which  so  eminently  char 
acterized  him,  he  was  a  fast  and  unwavering  friend. 
No  man  possessed  warmer  or  stronger  attachments. 
When  he  had  once  formed  a  friendship,  or  adopted  a 
resolution  after  due  deliberation,  no  earthly  power 
could  make  him  desert  the  one  or  abate  the  other.  Of 
course,  such  a  man,  with  such  traits  of  character,  was 
more  at  home  and  more  happy  in  the  domestic  circle 
than  in  public  life,  or  when  surrounded  by  public  men. 
His  love  of  domestic  life,  and  his  amiable  and  kind 
heart,  were  often  exhibited  during  his  brief  Presidential 
career,  in  the  garden  attached  to  the  white  house 
where  he  could  be  seen  with  a  dozen  children  flock 
ing  round  him,  all  receiving  a  shake  of  the  hand  and  a 


HIS    CHARACTER.  463 

kind  word.  They  seemed  at  home  with  him,  and  he 
happy  with  them.  These  simple  incidents,  revealed 
General  Taylor's  whole  character,  and  show  him  the 
kind-hearted  and  benevolent  man,  the  devoted  friend, 
and  the  affectionate  father.  Children  love  by  instinct 
men  who  possess  such  traits ;  and  every  child  who 
once  came  within  his  influence,  loved  General  Taylor 
with  the  love  of  a  child  for  its  father. 


THE    END. 


LIST  OF  BOOKS 

RECENTLY    PUBLISHED    BY 

DERBY  &  MILLER, 

AUBURN,  N.  Y. 


The  Life  of  John  Quincy  Adams,  Sixth  President 
of  the  United  States,  by  Hon.  Wm.  H.  Seward,  U.  S.  S., 
with  a  portrait  on  steel,  12  mo.  muslin,  gilt  backs. 

*.*  20,000  copies  of  this  popular  work  have  been  sold  by  agents,  in  the  short 
epace  of  eight  months. 

There  is,  indeed,  so  much  to  admire  throughout  the  whole  work,  that  were  we  to 
enter  into  anything  like  an  elaborate  review,  it  would  require  more  space  than  we 
can  spare.  *  The  Life  and  Public  Services  of  such 

a  man  as  John  Quincy  Adams,  furnish  the  very  material  for  such  a  pen  as  Gov. 
Seward's,  and  we  find  evidences  of  his  own  brilliant  intellect  impressed  upon  almost 
everyipage  and  sentence.  Preserving  the  connection  of  events  with  almost  mathe 
matical  nicety,  at  the  same  time  avoiding  everything  tedious  and  prolix.  As  a 
writer,  it  may  be  doubted  whether  Gov.  Seward  has  any  superiors. 
—  Philadelphia  News,  (  Whig.) 

It  would  be  a  task  of  no  ordinary  difficulty  for  a  contemporary,  one  who  haa 
mingled  in  the  strife  and  arena  of  his  times,  to  write  an  impartial  Life  of  so  peculiar 
and  prominent  an  actor  (for  half  a  century)  as  Mr.  Adams.  *  Gov. 

Seward  has  attempted  it,  and  succeeded  in  producing  an  interesting  work,  character 
ized  by  ability  and  eloquence.  We  consider  it  worthy  of  public 
attention. —  Albany  Argus,  (Dem.) 

We  have  read  this  volume  with  great  satisfaction,  and  hasten  to  express  our 
thanks  to  the  author ;  not  merely  for  the  pleasures  afforded  us,  but  for  the  ser 
vices  rendered  humanity.  —  Louisville  Examiner^ 
Anti-  Slavery. 


BOOKS    RECENTLY    PUBLISHED    BY    DERBY    <fe    MILLER. 


SEWARD'S  LIFE  OF  JOHX  Q.  ADAMS. 

*  We  are  glad  to  see  a  pretty  full  account  of  Mr.  Adams'  Anti-Slavery 
efforts  in  Congress  have  been  given;  for,  great  as  his  public  services  were  during  a 
long  life,  his  greatest  fame  with  the  present  and  future  generations,  will  rest  upon 
his  efforts  to  break  down  the  Slave   power.    The  great  men  who  eulogized  Mr. 
Adams  in  Congress  and  elsewhere,  generally  passed  silently  over  this  part  of  his 
life,  as  if  it  was  something  not  very  creditable  to  him,  and  to  be  talked  about  as  little 
as  possible.     Mr.  Seward  has  taken  a  better  view  of  the  subject.     We  can  recom 
mend  this  biography  as  being  a  clear  and  concise  history  of  Mr.  Adams'  life.        '* 

*  Lowell  Republican,  (Free  Soil.) 

It  is  a  work  well  written,  prepared  evidently  with  care,  conveys  an  excellent  idea 
of  the  life  and  services  of  that  distinguished  patriot  and  statesman.  It  is  well 
adapted  for  popular  reading,  and  comes  within  the  means  of  every  citizen.  * 
And  possessing,  as  it  does,  a  fund  of  historical  and  biographical  information,  of  the 
most  interesting  description,  it  will  be  a  desirable  book  for  the  library  and  a  welcome 
companion  to  any  man  who  cherishes  a  respect  for  the  memory  of  Adams.  * 

Boston  Journal. 

*  '    We  have  read  it  and  are  delighted  with  the  gnod  taste  and  discrimina 

tion  with  which  facts  and  cotemporary  events  are  brought  in  to  show  forth  the 
noble  and  manly  stand  of  John  Quincy  Adams.  Next  to  our  national  pride,  that  we 
have  such  great  and  good  men  to  adorn  the  pages  of  our  history,  we  should  glory  in 
having  authors  like  Wm.  H.  Seward,  to  chronicle  their  lives  and  their  deeds.  * 

*  Massachusetts  Eagle. 

The  association  of  such  names  as  Adams  and  Seward,  one  as  the  subject  of  the 
biography,  and  the  other  as  the  biographer,  must  give  to  this  work  an  interest  which 
rarely  attaches  to  anything  emanating  from  an  American  pen. 
Washington  Advocate. 

We  would  recommend  this  work  to  every  class  of  mind  —  to  the  vicious,  that  they 
may  be  benefited  by  the  contrast  — to  the  virtuous,  that  they  may  be  incited  to  still 
higher  attainments  —  to  the  patriot,  that  the  love  of  country  may  be  renewed  in  his 
bosom  —  to  the  Christian,  that  he  may  see  how  to  honor  God  in  exalted  positions  — 
to  the  young,  that  they  may  drink  from  the  pure  rill  of  patriotism,  an<l  learn  to 
cherish  and  protect  their  privileges  —  and  lastly  to  the  old,  that  they  may  yet  once 
more  read  the  lessons  of  wisdom,  as  they  distilled  from  the  lips  of  him  who  was  a 
Nestor  among  statesmen. —  Wisconsin  Chronicle. 

This  volume  has  been  now  but  a  few  months  before  the  public,  during  which  we 
understand  that  some  20,000  copies  have  been  circulated.  The  fact  is  sufficient  to 
show  that  the  deceased  statesman  has  found  a  worthy  biographer.  Designed  for 
popular  use,  and  prepared  from  the  materials  existing  in  public  documents  and 
journals,  it  is  a  book,  nevertheless,  that  cannot  fail  to  be  read  with  interest  by  the 
scholar  as  well  as  the  masses.  The  writer  seems  imbued  with  a  sincere  reverence 
for  the  great  man  whose  career  he  chronicles,  and  depicts  its  various  eventful 
incidents  with  spirit  and  fidelity.  There  is  no  book  that  we  now  remember,  which 
presents  in  the  same  compass  so  much  that  is  interesting  in  our  history,  during  the 
period  of  which  it  treats. —  Washington  Republic. 


BOOKS    RECENTLY    PUBLISHED    BY    DERBY    «fe    MILLER. 

The  American  Fruit  Culturist :  By  J.  J.  Thomas; 
containing  directions  for  the  propagation  and  culture  of 
Fruit  Trees,  in  the  Nursery,  Orchard,  and  Garden;  with 
descriptions  of  the  principal  American  and  Foreign  varieties 
cultivated  in  the  United  States:  \vith  300  accurate  illustra 
tions.  1  volume,  of  over  400  pages,  12mo.  $1,00 

A  cheaper,  but  equally  valuable  book  with  Downing's  was  wanted  by  the  great 
mass.  Just  such  a  work  has  Mr  Thomas  given  us.  We  consider  it  an  invaluable 
addidon  to  our  agricultural  libraries.— Wool  Grower. 

We  predict  for  it  a  very  rapid  sale  ;  it  should  be  in  the  hands  of  every  fruit  grower 
and  especially  every  nurseryman.  It  is  a  very  cheap  book  for  its  price. —  Ohio 
Cultivator. 

It  is  a  most  valuable  work  to  all  engaged  in  the  culture  of  fruit  trees.—  Utica 
Herald. 

It  is  a  book  of  great  value. —  Genesee  Farmer. 

Among  all  the  writers  on  fruits,  we  do  not  know  of  one  who  is  Mr.  Thomas' 
superior,  if  his  equal,  in  condensing  important  matter.  He  gets  right  at  the  pith  of 
the  thing  —  he  gives  you  that  which  you  wish  to  know  at  once  ;  stripped  of  all  use 
less  talk  and  twattle.  No  man  has  a  keener  eye  for  the  best  ways  of  doing  things. 
Hence  we  always  look  into  his  writings  with  the  assurance  that  we  shall  find  some 
thing  new,  or  some  improvements  on  the  old  ;  and  we  are  seldom  disappointed. 
This  book  is  no  exception.  It  is  full.  There  is  no  vacant  space  in  it.  It  is  like  a 
fresh  egg  —  all  good,  and  packed  to  the  shell  full— Prairie  Farmer. 

In  the  volume  before  us  we  have  the  result  of  the  author's  experience  and  obser 
vations,  continued  with  untiring  perseverance  for  many  years,  in  language  at  once 
concise  and  perspicuous. —  Albany  Cultivator. 

We  can  say  with  confidence  to  our  readers,  that  if  you  need  a  book  to  instruct  you 
in  the  modes  of  growing  trees,  &c.,  from  the  first  start,  the  systems  of  pruning,  etc., 
etc.,  you  will  find  the  American  Fruit  Culturist  an  extremely  valuable  work.  The 
million  who  purchase  it,  will  find  matter  adapted  to  their  wants,  superior  to  any 
work  as  yet  published. —  Cleveland  Herald. 

For  sale  in  New  York  by  M.  H.  NEWMAN  &  CO.  and  C.  M.  SAXTON. 
Boston,  B.  B.  MUSSEY  &  CO.  Philadelphia,  THOMAS,  COWPERTHWAITE  & 
CO. 

E£EF~  Copies  in  paper  covers  sent  by  mail,  free  of  expense,  on  receipt  of  $1,00 
post  paid.  Direct  to  DERBY  &  MILLER, 

Auburn,  N.  Y. 


BOOKS    RECENTLY    PUBLISHED    BY    DERBY    <fc    MILLER. 

Headley's  Women  of  the  Bible :  Historical  and 
descriptive  sketches  of  the  Women  of  the  Bible,  as  maidens, 
wives,  and  mothers ;  from  Eve  of  the  Old,  to  the  Marys  of 
the  New  Testament:  by  Rev.  P.  C.  Headley,  in  one  12mo. 
volume,  illustrated — uniform  with  "Headley's  Sacred 
Mountains."  $1,25. 

The  author  of  this  work  possesses  enough  traits  of  resemblance  to  the  author  of 
the  Sacred  Mountains,  to  leave  no  doubt  of  his  right  to  the  name  of  Headley.  There 
is  much  of  that  spirited  descriptive  power,  which  has  made  the  elder  brother  a 
popular  favorite,  and  gives  promise  of  a  successful  career  on  his  own  account.  The 
sketches  are  brief,  and  embody  all  the  historic  incidents  recorded  of  them. —  Xeio 
York  Evangelist. 

A  younger  brother  of  J.  T.  Headley  is  the  author  of  this  beautiful  volume.  It  will 
probably  have  a  larger  circulation  than  the  splendid  work  issued  last  fall  by  the 
Messrs.  Appleton,  being  better  adapted  for  the  general  reader,  in  form  and  price, 
while  it  is  ornamental  enough  for  the  centre  table.  It  contains  nineteen  descriptive 
biographical  sketches,  arranged  in  chronological  order,  including  nearly  all  the 
distinguished  women  of  the  sacred  annals,  and  forming  an  outline  of  Scripture 
history.  The  illustrations  are  from  original  designs,  and  are  numerous  and  appro 
priate.  No  ordinary  powers  of  imagination  and  expression  are  shown  in  the  vivid 
and  picturesque  descriptions ;  and  the  fine  portraitures  of  character  rivet  the 
interest,  and  set  forth  the  Scripture  delineations  in  a  stronger  light.  In  this  respect 
the  book  has  no  rival,  for  no  other  is  so  complete,  following  so  closely  at  the  same 
time,  the  sacred  narrative.  We  hope  it  is  but  an  earnest  of  other  works  from  the 
pen  of  its  gifted  author. —  Home  Journal. 

We  were  so  struck  with  the  title  of  this  work,  and  the  prepossessing  appearance 
of  its  typography,  that  we  have  so  far  departed  from  the  usual  course  adopted  in 
like  cases,  as  to  read  carefully  the  work  in  hand,  before  recommending  it  to  our 
readers.  And  we  are  prepared  to  say,  that  a  more  attractive  volume  has  not  fallen 
in  our  way  for  a  long  time.  It  is  made  up  of  brief  historical  and  descriptive  eulogies 
of  the  most  remarkable  females  of  a  most  extraordinary  era  in  the  world's  history. 
The  author  has  appropriated  very  much  of  the  poetry  and  romance  of  the  Bible,  in 
the  sketches  he  has  given  of  nineteen  women,  who  have  come  down  to  us  throush 
their  peculiar  merits,  embalmed  in  sacred  inspiration.  Whoever  reads  the  story  of 
Sarah,  the  beautiful  Hebrew  maiden,  the  admiration  of  the  Chaldean  shepherds  and 
the  pride  of  her  kindred  ;  or  of  Rebecca,  whom  the  "  faithful  steward  of  Abraham  " 
journeyed  to  the  land  of  Nahor  and  selected  as  the  bride  of  Isaac,  and  who,  it  ig 
said,  "was  very  fair  to  look  upon;''  or  of  Rachel,  the  beautiful  shepherdess  who 
tended  her  father's  flocks  in  the  valley  of  Haran  ;  or  of  Merriam,  Deborah,  Jeptha'a 
Daughter,  Delilah,  Ruth,  Queen  of  Sheba,  the  Shunamite,  Esther,  Elizabeth,  Virgin 
Mary,  Dorcas,  and  others  —  will  read  a  story  far  more  interesting  and  attractive  than 
any  romance  or  novel.  Every  young  lady  in  town  should  read  this  work  ;  and  we 
will  venture  to  say  that  they  will  do  so  if  they  but  once  get  hold  of  it,  for  it  is  a  book 
that  cannot  be  laid  aside. —  Ostcego  Times. 


BOOKS    RECENTLY    PUBLISHED    BY    DERBY    &    MILLER. 

The  Lives  of  Mary  and  Martha,  mother  and 
wife  of  Washington :  by  Margaret  C.  Conkling, 
with  a  steel  portrait,  Ibmo,  scarlet  cloth. 

Miss  CONKLING,  who  is  a  daughter  ef  Judge  Conkling  of  Auburn,  is  favorably 
knmvu  us  the  author  of  Harper's  translation  of  "  Florian's  History  of  the  Moora 
01  Spain."  She  also  wrote  "Isabel,  or  the  Trials  of  the  Heart."  In  the  preparation 
of  tne  pretty  little  volume  she  has  done  a  praiseworthy  deed,  and  we  hope  she  will 
receive  the  reward  she  merits.  She  has  taught  us  in  the  work 

"  how  divine  a  thing 
A  woman  may  be  made." 

The  mother  and  wife  of  Washington  were,  in  many  respects,  model  women,  and 
the  daughters  of  America  will  do  well  to  study  their  character  —  which  is  finely 
drawn  mi  these  pages. —  Literary  Messenger. 

This  beautifully  printed  and  e'iegantly  bound  little  work,  reflecting  the  highest 
credit  upon  the  skill  and  task  of  the  publishers,  contains  biographical  sketches  of 
Mary,  the  mother,  and  Martha,  'he  wile  of  the  Father  of  his  country.  It  is  a  most 
valuable  contribution  to  the  history  of  the  American  people,  embracing  not  only  the 
great  public  events  of  the  century  during  which  the  subjects  lived,  but  those  pictures 
of  home  life,  arid  that  exhibition  of  social  manners  and  customs,  which  constitute 
the  most  important  part  of  lii'e,  but  which,  from  the  fact  of  their  apparent  triviality 
and  intangibility,  the  historian  generally  passes  over..  The  authoress  evidently 
sympathises  earnestly  with  her  subject,  and  feels  that  in  the  exhibition  ot  those 
womanly  virtues  which  characterized  the  heroines  of  her  narrative,  she  makes  the 
most  eloquent  plea  in  lavor  of  the  dignity  of  her  sex.  It  is  dedicated  to  Mrs.  WM. 
H.  SKVVAUD,  and  contains  a  finely  executed  engraving  of  the  wile  of  Washington. 
We  cordially  commend  it  to  the  public,  and  most  especially  our  lady  readers.— 
Syracuse  Journal. 

This  acceptable  and  well  written  volume  goes  forth  upon  a  happy  mission, 

"  To  teach  us  how  divine  a  thing 

A  woman  may  be  made," 

by  unfolding  those  charms  of  character  which  belong  to  the  mother  and  wife  of  the 
hero  of  the  Land  of  the  Free ;  and  in  the  companionship  of  which,  while  they  illus 
trated  the  watchful  tenderness  of  a  mother,  and  the  confiding  aflections  of  a  wile, 
is  shown  those  influences  which  made  up  the  moral  sentiments  of  a  man,  whose 
moral  grandeur  will  be  felt  in  all  that,  is  future  in  government  or  divine  in 
philosophy  ;  and  one  whose  name  is  adored  by  all  nations,  as  the  leader  of  man  in 
in  the  progress  of  government,  to  that  perfection  of  human  rights  where  all  enjoy 
liberty  and  equality.  To  say  that  Miss  Conkling  has  fulfilled  the  task  she  says  a 
"too  partial  friendship  has  assigned  her"  faultlessly,  would  perhaps  be  too 
unmeasured  praise,  for  perfection  is  seldom  attained;  but  it  will  not  be  denied  but 
that  her  biographies'  are  traced  in  the  chaste  elegances  that  belong  to  the  finished 
periods  of  a  refined  style,  which  fascinates  the  reader  with  what  she  has  thus  contri 
buted  to  our  national  literature. 

The  design  of  the  volume  is,  to  picture  a  mother  fitting  the  "  Father  of  his 
Country  "  in  a  light  full  of  the  inexhaustible  nobleness  of  woman's  nature,  and  yet 
as  possessing  thai  subdued  and  quiet  simplicity,  where  Truth  becomes  the  Hope  on 
which  Faith  looks  at  the  future  with  a  smile.  The  mother  of  Washington  was 
tried  in  a  school  of  practice  where  frugal  habits  and  active  industry  were  combined 
with  ih«  proverbial  excellences  of  those  Virginia  matrons,  who  were  worthy  mothers 
of  such  men  as  Washington,  Jefferson,  Marshall,  and  Henry.  Miss  C.  has  pictured 
with  fidelity  and  elegance,  her  views  of  this  remarkable  woman;  not  Jess  beauti 
fully  has  she  sketched  the  character  of  Martha,  the  wife;  following  her  from  her 
brilliant  manners  as  the  Virginia  belle,  through  the  various  phases  of  her  Hie,  she 
pivc*  a  rapid  but  comprehensive  view  of  those  characteristics  which  make  up  the 
quiet  refinement  of  manners  native  to  her,  and  which  ever  gave  her  the  reputation 
of  an  accomplished  wife  arid  lady.  And  with  peculiar  delicacy  Miss  Conkling  has 
portrayed  the  thousand  virtues  with  which  she  embellished  a  home;  her  amiable 
disposition  and  winning  manners  made  the  happiest  to  the  purest  and  best  ol  all 
men  fame  has  chosen  for  its  noblest  achievments.—  Syracuse,  Star. 


THIS  BOOK  IS  DUE  ON  THE  LAST  DATE 
STAMPED  BELOW 

AN     INITIAL    FINE    OF    25    CENTS 

WILL  BE  ASSESSED  FOR  FAILURE  TO  RETURN 
THIS  BOOK  ON  THE  DATE  DUE.  THE  PENALTY 
WILL  INCREASE  TO  5O  CENTS  ON  THE  FOURTH 
DAY  AND  TO  $1.OO  ON  THE  SEVENTH  DAY 
OVERDUE. 


SEP    18 


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DEC   30 

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UNIVERSITY  OF  CALIFORNIA  UBRARY 


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